GASTRO-HYSTEROTOMY, OR THE CESAREAN SECTION. 565 



sion having been reduced, Ory practised the "touch," and found the cervix uteri so 

 contracted that he could scarcely introduce one finger. 



After long-continued efforts, he contrived to introduce three fingers, but it was im- 

 possible to effect more. The cervix was excised, but a new difficulty then presented 

 itself : the foetus filled the uterus so exactly, that the hand could not be passed between 

 it and the foetus. However, it was ascertained that all the feet of the latter presented, 

 and that the young creature was doubled on itself ; it did not exhibit any sign of being 

 alive. Ory then came at once to the conclusion that delivery by the genital canal was 

 impossible ; though, for conscience sake, he did all he could during two hours until, 

 exhausted, he was compelled to cease. The Mare being very old and of little value, he 

 determined to have it destroyed ; but before doing so he resolved to save the foal — if it 

 still lived — by resorting to the Cassarean section for its extraction. The operation was 

 easily performed, and in the same manner as in the previous case. But the foal was 

 dead. Its head was on the left shoulder, the croup ott the head, — the creature being 

 thus gathered in a threefold mass, not unlike a ball, to which the uterus was closely ap- 

 plied. All the feet were directed towards the os. 



The Mare was killed as soon as the operation was concluded, and its uterus showed 

 a somewhat remarkable disposition. The body of the organ alone had been developed 

 during gestation, and it had a globular or spherical shape, not unlike that of a woman. 

 The cornua were ver^' slightly developed, and formed, near the anterior part of the 

 organ, two nearly equal appendages about three inches long. 



40. Rohhves (Dieterich, Geburtshiilfe, p. 125), in 1822, refers to the case of a Mare 

 which could not foal. He had the animal placed on its back, the fore-feet fastened to 

 as many posts, and opened the abdomen at the linea alba. The foal was alive, and was 

 extracted; it was reared by another Mare, its mother having died, and was afterwards 

 a stud stallion. This is the earliest recorded case of gastro-hysterotomy we can find 

 any notice of. 



41. Lehnert {Sachs JaJn-esbericht, 1S73, P- ^5) performed the Caesarean section on a 

 Cow which was dying from a lung disease, and extracted three living calves. 



42. Feser ( Thierarztliche Mittheilungen der Munchener Schule, Part iii., p. 296) op- 

 erated on a Bitch which could not pup, making the opening in the left flank, against 

 which the uterus lay ; three puppies were extracted — one from each horn and one from 

 towards the os uteri, the latter being dead, and from a deviation of its head it consti- 

 tuted the obstacle to birth. The heads of the other two puppies were likewise deviated. 

 The uterus and Fallopian tubes — every thing behind the cervix uteri — were extirpated 

 by the ecraseur. The uterine and ovarian artery were ligatured. The incisions were 

 closed by suture, and ice applied to the left side of the abdomen. The animal lost 

 about three ounces of blood. An hour after the operation it had a shivering fit, but 

 this soon passed off ; though it recurred three times a day for some time. In six- 

 teen days the wound had healed and the Bitch was quite recovered. The puppies were 

 reared artificially. 



43. The same veterinarian [Ibid., p. 297) performed the Sedio Ccesarean on another 

 Bitch two years old. The animal had been in labor for two days, and was extremely 

 weak ; no puppies has been born. The section was made on the left side, and four 

 dead puppies extracted. The uterus and ovaries were extirpated by the ecraseur, and 

 the arteries ligatured. Frequent rigors appeared after the operation. In twenty-four 

 hours death ensued, the fatal termination being apparently due to septikasmia. 



44. Feser [Ibid., p. 298) relates another instance in which he performed the operation, 

 extracting; four living puppies — two from each cornu ; the incision was made in the left 

 flank. The uterus and ovaries were also excised in this case, the animal losing about 

 five ounces of blood. Extreme prostration ensued after the wounds were closed, but this 

 was combated by stimulants, and sprinkling sweet spirits of nitre over the body. The 

 appetite was good, and with the exception of traumatic fever, no unfavorable symptoms 

 supervened. In eight days the Bitch had recovered ; two of the puppies were reared 

 artificially. 



45. Adam [Briijliche Mittheibing) performed the operation on a Bitch, under chloro- 

 form, making the section at the linea alba, behind the umbilicus, and dividing the tissues 

 with the scalpel, the peritoneum with scissors; the cornua were opened by incision. 

 After removal of the foetuses, the wound in the abdominal muscles was united by suture, 

 then that in the skin. During the first day the animal was very depressed and feverish, 

 but on the third day it was able to move about. The puppies, which were very large, 

 were reared by hand. Eight months afterwards the Bitch again became pregnant, and, 

 not being able to bring forth, died — no assistance having been rendered on this occasion, 

 apparently. 



46. Soerensen [Tidskrift for Veterinar.. 186S) gives the case of a Sow, the vagina of 

 which was so swollen that it could not farrow after one foetus had been expelled. Soeren- 

 sen operated as for ovariotomy ; first removing the bristles from the left flank where the 



