OTHER CAUSES OF MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 359 



less permanent adhesion of these to the foetus and to the uterus. The 

 subject appears to have received very little attention, and the observa- 

 tions are so few that Saint-Cyr makes no mention of these adhesions as a 

 cause of difficult or impossible birth. 



It is very probable that animals are less subject to disease of the uterus 

 and the placental membranes than the human species, and this will no 

 doubt account to a certain extent for the absence of notices of such 

 occurrences. Nevertheless, that animals are disposed to metritis, endom- 

 etritis, and perimetris. no one can deny ; and that we may also have such 

 anomalies as hyperplasia of the chorion, as well as myxomata of that 

 membrane, in addition to new formations of the placenta and placentitis, 

 might be expected. But, as we have observed, there is indeed but litde 

 direct evidence to prove that any of these morbid conditions ever exist, 

 though some of them at least may lead to abortion, while others give rise 

 to obstacles which may retard or altogether prevent birth. 



Scirrhous Chorion. 



According to Cox {Veterinary Journal, Februar}-, 1877), scirrhous 

 chorion is occasionally met with in animals, and proves an obstacle to 

 parturition. 



The membrane is found to be separated from the uterus, and envelops 

 the foetus, as it were, in a leather bag, no part of the creature being dis- 

 tinguishable. This is probably the condition known in woman as 7nyxoma 

 fi'ibrosum placentce. 



The labor pains are seldom violent, though the foetal membranes 

 (water-bag) cannot be expelled into the vagina, even when the os uteri 

 offers no obstacle. 



An early examination is necessary, as the foetus soon perishes. An 

 incision must be made through the chorion, and the foetus extracted. 



Morbid Adhesion between the Fcetus and Uterus. 



Adhesion between the uterus and its contents maybe due to inflamma- 

 tion of a portion of the mucous membrane, to hyperplasia of the chorion, 

 or to disease of the ovum or placenta, by which the two latter are brought 

 into direct contact with the interior of the organ. Or it may be owing to 

 a deficient quantity of liquor amnii when- the foetus begins to be formed ; 

 for if the amnion, in the course of its development, is not separated from 

 the growing foetus by a sufficient quantity of fluid, connection between 

 them is almost certain to be established either in isolated spots (Simon- 

 art's " bands "), or over a wide surface. Adhesion between the amnion, 

 chorion, and lining membrane of the uterus, is then not only possible but 

 probable, and in this way the foetus is brought into a solid union with 

 the maternal organ. It will readily be understood that such an occurrence 

 will prove a very serious obstacle to birth, and greatly endanger the life 

 of the mother. 



Rainard {Traite Cojnplet de la Parturition, vol. i., p. 461) furnishes us 

 with two observations, a writer in the Veterinary Journal (" Nemo '') 

 with another, and Naylor with two. These are the only illustrations I 

 can find in veterinary literature. 



I. Two pupils of the Lyons Veterinary School — Patusset and Chabral — were, in 1840, 

 sent to attend a Cow, between seven and eight years old, which, according to the cal- 

 culations of its owner, was ten days beyond its ordinary period of gestation. It was in 



