GASTRO-HYSTEROTOMY, OR THE CESAREAN SECTION. 563 



was extremely weak from having been in the pangs of impotent labor for three days. 

 There was a vaginal tumor, apparently fibrous, which had been mistaken for the " water 

 bag," and punctured ; this was the inverted bladder! The neck of the uterus was indu- 

 rated. 



The animal being now considered lost, the Caesarean section was practised in the hope 

 of saving the Calf. The operation was successful ; a living Calf, which was afterwards 

 reared, being removed from the uterus. The Cow died. 



25. Chretien {Ibid., loc. cit., p. 221) describes a similar case ; the Cow having been in 

 labor for three days, the cervix uteri indurated, and the genital organs greatly inflamed. 

 The Cow being deemed lost, it was determined to sate the Calf by the Caesarean sec- 

 tion. The right flank was opened about two inches in front of the anterior spinous pro- 

 cess of the ilium, the Cow being in a standing attitude; the incision was about seven 

 inches in length. The uterus presented at the wound, and was incised in turn ; the foe- 

 tus was removed alive, and then the membranes. A portion of intestine escaped from 

 the wound ; this was returned, and the uterine wound closed by continuous or pointed 

 suture ; the blood which had escaped into the abdomen was carefully removed, and a 

 double suture united at first the muscles, then the skin. The Cow died eight hours after 

 the operation ; the calf appears to have lived. 



26. The same author (ibid.) alludes to another Cow which was in labor for six hours. 

 Some time previously it had been treated for a fracture of the ilium, which united ; but 

 the animal remained lame, and the callus filled one-third of the pelvic cavity. The fore- 

 limbs of the foetus were outside the vulva ; the head was retained and thrown over the 

 back. It was brought into a favorable position, and energetic traction applied, but the 

 obstruction could not be overcome. The Caesarean section was deemed indispensable, 

 and was practised as in the previous case, except that a small opening was left at the 

 lower part of the wound for the escape of discharges. The Cow recovered, but no men- 

 tion is made as to whether the calf survived. 



27. This authority (/(!5zV/.) gives another instance of a Cow which had gone twenty- 

 seven days beyond its time for calving, and had been in labor for twenty-four hours. 

 The foetus was a Celosomian monstrosity, which could not be extracted per vias natur- 

 ales ; so in order to save time, and fatigue to mother and operator, gastro-hysterotomy 

 was performed, and practised the same as above. The extraction of the monstrosity 

 was difficult, and it had to be divided — the anterior half being first removed, then the 

 posterior. The Cow was killed next day, as fears were entertained for the result of the 

 operation. 



28. Pradal {Recueil de Mid. Vetcrinaire, 1833, p. 195) attended a Cow which had been 

 making fruitless efforts to calve for forty-eight hours. When the animal was lying, on 

 separating the labia of the vulva the posterior segment of the uterus could be seen well 

 advanced in the vagina ; but when it stood the tumor receded into the abdomen. 



The cervix uteri was swollen, indurated, and almost cartilaginous in consistence ; di- 

 lation of the OS was considered impossible. The foetus was alive and strong, as its 

 movements showed. The Caesarean section was adopted ; the right flank, then the 

 uterus was largely opened; the foetus was quickly removed ; and the Cow immediately 

 killed by the butcher. The Calf was reared by another Cow.* 



29. Lecoq {Man. de la Soc. Vet. du Calvados, etc., No. vi.) refers to a Cow which had 

 been straining fruitlessly for twenty-four hours, and was weak and exhausted, though 

 the pains still continued. The os uteri was occluded. Without giving any reason for 

 the preference, Lecoq decided on the Caesarean section rather than vagftal hvsterot- 

 om)-. An incision was made in the middle of the right flank, downwards and backwards, 

 for about seven inches; then the uterus was opened. The foetal membranes were so 

 thick and resisting that it was necessary to divide them with the knife ; the foetus was 

 then easily extracted, though it was difiicult to remove the placenta afterwards. The 

 abdominal wound was closed by suture. 



Notwithstanding every attention, the calf, which was weak and ill when extracted, 

 died on the same evening ; while the Cow succumbed next day — twenty-four hours after 

 the operation. 



30. 31, 32. T,y Rainard (Op. cit., vol. ii., p. 103) states that he had performed the op- 

 eration four times — on the Sheep, Goat, and Bitch, and he was never successful in 

 saving either the parent or progeny ; though he admits that the animals operated upon 

 were always in a desperate condition — the long-continued efforts to remove the foetus 

 by the genital passages having exhausted them. 



34. Garreau [Rec. de Med. Veteriimire, 1854, p. 513) mentions the case of a Cow preg- 

 nant with its fourth calf, and which had gone fifteen days beyond its time ; though at 

 the ordinary period it had exhibited signs of parturition, which disappeared only to re- 

 appear at the end of the fifteen days. 



* This would have been an excellent case for original hysterotomy, and offered a good prospect of suc- 

 cess. The Cow might even have recovered from the effects of the operation practised on it. 



