394 



FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



2. Liidke mentions an enormous kyst on the neck of a calf, as entirely opposing 

 natural delivery. The kyst was situated in the subcutaneous connective tissue, below 

 the ear on the right side, and measured more than a foot in diameter ; it contained thirty- 

 six pounds of fluid, which was yellow-colored, and in which were some flocculi of lymph. 

 During labor it lay against the fore limbs, which were advanced into the pelvis, and it 

 had pushed the head so far back that this could not be found. The nature of the tu- 

 mor having been ascertained, Liidke punctured it ; this rendered delivery possible, and 

 saved the Cow. 



3. Rossignol (yournal de Med. Veterinaire de Lyon, 1864, p. 400) gives a very interest- 

 ing account of a case of this description. Making an exploration in a case of protracted 

 labor, he found that the foetus, which was dead, was in the anterior presentation, with 

 the head turned back and out of reach. It was decided to remove it by embryotomy, 

 in order to rescue the Cow, which was greatly exhausted. The fore limbs were removed 

 o«e after the other, and this allowed a cord with a running noose to be passed round the 

 neck, which was then straightened and the head brought into the vagina, from which the 

 foetus was extracted by moderate force. 



Birth was then supposed to be finished, but to the surprise of Rossignol and his four 

 assistants, who pulled with all their might, the calf could make no further progress. The 

 case was an embarrassing one, and necessitated another examination ; this was rendered 

 easier from the fact of the fore limbs having been removed. Passing the hand beneath 

 the thorax of the foetus, it soon came in contact with a large, solid, round, and smooth 

 tumor, but no trace of ears or jaws could be felt. It seemed to be firmly attached in 

 front of the umbilicus, though it was slightly movable. Deciding that, whether it was 

 the head of another foetus or whether it was a tumor, the union should be broken by 

 the increasing traction, a rope was passed round the hind quarters of the Cow and held 

 by assistants at its head, and the pulling at the foetus recommenced. This at last 

 brought away the whole of the body, but the tumor was left behind in the uterus. All 

 these manipulations did not last longer than half an hour. 



The foetus, though large, was remarkably emaciated. Towards the umbilical region 

 there was a" place as big as the hand, which was denuded of skin ; the latter had been 

 torn off, leaving the tunica abdominalis exposed ; this, around the margin of the wound, 

 showed long fibrous shreds. The umbilical cord was somewhat long, but did not 

 appear to have had any connection with the tumor. Search was about to be made for 

 the latter, when the Cow lay down; the labor pains again commenced — at first feebly, 

 but gradually increasing — and at length, without any assistance, a large white tumor was 

 expelled, and soon after the foetal envelopes. 



The tumor was spheroidal in shape, white, hard, and nodulated, and appeared to be 

 composed of fibro-adipose tissue. It was covered by a thin, smooth, but resisting 

 membrane, beneath which were blood-vessels. On one side was a net-work of veins, 

 and there were also some fibrous bands indicating where it had been attached to the 

 foetus. It weighed a little over eleven pounds. 



The Cow quickly and completely recovered. 



4. Pflug {Zeitschrift fiir Thiermedicin, etc., vol. i., p. 367) was called to attend a Goat 

 in difficult labor, and on manual exploration discovered that the first foetus was in a 

 normal position, but that on each side of the head, in the parotideal regions and towards 

 the larynx, were too large swellings (congenital scrofula) which prevented the passage of 

 the young creature. By manipulation, pressure on the tumors — which were as large as 

 a small fist^ — first on one side, then on the other, with gentle traction, the kid was 

 released. Two other kids which were in proximity to the first, were also artificially 

 delivered. 



5. Schliepe (Gurlt and Hertwig's Magazin, 1863) describes the case of an unborn foal 

 which had, behind the lower jaw, towards the neck, a kind of scrofulous tumor. On 

 examination, this was found to be a distension of the Eustachian pouch, which con- 

 tained six Berlin quarts of yellow but somewhat coagulated serum. 



Indications. 



The indications will depend upon circumstances. In the examples 

 given, the course there followed may be again adopted. Puncturing the 

 tumor if it contains fluid, removing it if it is accessible and solid, and 

 embryotomy if neither of these operations is likely to be successful, are 

 the only measures which can be recommended. 



DEATH. 



Many practitioners are of opinion that the death of the foetus renders 



