424 



FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



The limb was disarticulated by the bistoury, and found to be as surmised ; its extrac- 

 tion, nevertheless, was hindered by the ilium, which was placed in a vertical direction 

 at the pelvic inlet ; so he was obliged to amputate it at the stifle. The foetus was pushed 

 forward, and attaching a cord to the ilium, this was brought into a horizontal position 

 and extracted. Still the hind limb could not be removed, until by chance the upper 

 extremity of the tibia was secured by a cord, traction was applied, and the leg came away, 

 though destitute of skin, which had become everted from it, and had to be cut through 

 at the foot before the member could be completely detached. It being impossible to 

 find the other limb, a cord was tied to the piece of skin which had just been divided, 

 and a hook having been fixed into the most accessible part of the foetus, four men and 

 Daube himself pulled at the cords, when the foetus was finally extracted. At first sight 

 it looked as if the foetus was still in the placenta, but a little investigation proved it to 

 be otherwise. The ribs appeared, in the first place, to form tv/o wings to the vertebral 

 column; then the skin of the foetus itself formed a closed sac enveloping it, and which 

 proved so resisting. The limbs were greatly misplaced and distorted. The right 

 fore-leg, for instance, was detached from the scapula and suspended merely to the 

 skin, being apparently destitute of muscle ; it bent around behind the head like a collar ; 

 the left fore leg lay along the left jaw in passing above the preceding, when it deviated 

 to the right, curved round the nostrils, and towards the left eye, where it was indented 

 by the other limb, the inferior extremity of which was placed against the right jaw. 

 The left hind limb was directed forwards along the vertebrae; the tail was also reversed 

 and passed forward ; while no trace of the anus could be discovered. 



The most remarkable feature of the case, in Daube's estimation, was the disposition 

 of the skin, which was inverted — turned outside-in — and formed a closed sac for the calf 

 itself, being- perfectly contiguous throughout, the internal part having become external, 

 and the hair everywhere in contact with the young creature's body. The pectoral, 

 abdominal, and pelvic organs must, therefore, have floated in the placental fluid. 



9. Bosch [Miinchener Jahresbericht, 1873-4) describes an instance in which the intes- 

 tines were enclosed in a skin capsule some distance from their proper situation, the 

 abdominal cavity containing a yellowish mSss of exudate {sulzige exsicdatmasse'), as did 

 also the foetal membranes. 



10. Anacker [Der Thierarzt, 1870, p. 85) alludes to a monstrosity of this kind, the ab- 

 domen of which presented ; the liver, kidneys, etc., were removed, but the Cow had to 

 be killed. 



Franck gives a number of instances similar to the above. . ; 



Double and Triple Monstrosities. 



We have already alluded to monstrosities which have the head double ; 

 we now come to the consideration of those which have the body more or 

 less double, or even triple, and which have been designated by G. Saint- 

 Hilaire as Eusomphalian, Monomphalia?!^ and Monocephalian, according to 

 the degree of separation of the bodies, and whether two are united to a 

 single head — the double-headed creatures being designated Syncephalian. 



From an obstetrical point of view, there is little need to distinguish 

 between the Eusomphalian and Monomphalian Monstrosities ; for, as 

 already explained, they consist of two distinct foetuses joined together at 

 some part of their body, the character distinguishing them being the pres- 

 ence of a double or single umbilical cord (see Figs, 96, 98, 99, 100). 



The occurrence of such monstrosities is generally, though not always, 

 serious, so far as birth is concerned ; they are met with in all the domes- 

 ticated animals, but perhaps most frequently in the bovine and ovine 

 species. Several instances are mentioned in which birth has taken place 

 without difficulty, and the young creatures have lived. Holzner of Erding, 

 quoted by Franck, states that a double lamb, with eight feet, double abdo- 

 men, and single breast, neck, and head, w^as born without assistance. But 

 in other cases, unless relief is afforded, the gravest results are certain to 

 ensue. 



Saint-Cyr alludes to three instances in which embryotomy had to be 

 practised, and in two of these the mother succumbed \ the third, however, 

 — a Mare — recovered. 



i 



