572 



ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION. 



also speak highly in its favor, and assert that it is always successful, pro- 

 vided there is no mechanical obstacle to the expulsion. Baumeister and 

 Rueff recommend carbonate of potass in the dose of 45 grammes daily, 

 at three times, and in an infusion of chamomile or savin. Hummer pre- 

 scribes 90 gramme doses for three consecutive days, and Hertwig, Lund, 

 and others also prescribe it with the same object. Hering gives the fol- 

 lowing formula : 



Carbonate of potass - - - 15 grammes. 

 Savin leaves 30 " 



These are infused in 500 grammes of water, filtered, and administered 

 tepid. The dose to be repeated every six hours. 



Garreau praises Caramija's uterine tincture, which he states always 

 succeeds in producing expulsion of the membranes, even when they have 

 been retained for two months after parturition. 



The formula for this tincture is given by Tabourin as follows : 



Garreau prescribes this tincture in doses of 100 grammes, given in 2 

 litres of savin infusion. 



Cruzel likewise has his favorite potion, composed of 30 to 40 grammes 

 of green rue, or 10 grammes of ergot of rye and 20 grammes of powdered 

 savin, made into a decoction in a litre and a half of water. Delwart, 

 Rainard, and Schrader recommend ergot of rye, and Ungefrohrn stra- 

 'monium Seeds (30 grammes in two litres of water), which he believes to 

 be specific in their action ; he advises that linseed decoction be given in 

 the intervals, as it acts as a diuretic, and Rychner asserts that this sim- 

 ple medication is particularly useful when the foetal membranes are so 

 decomposed that they cannot be removed by the hand. 



The subcutaneous injection of ergotine or ergot of rye has also been 

 advised. Extract of ergot of rye, one to three grammes, dissolved in 

 glycerine and spirits of wine (fifteen grammes of each), has- been used 

 for injection. 



Though medication has been so highly vaunted by some authorities, 

 yet some others have not much faith in it. Deneubourg thinks its chief 

 advantage is in making the owner of the animal exercise patience, until 

 spontaneous expulsion is effected ; the least active measures being the 

 best. Other obstetrists entertain the same opinion of these emmena- 

 gogues. 



For a very long time, an empirical mode of removing the placenta 

 when a part of it protruded beyond the vulva, was to exercise slight and 

 continuous traction on it by attaching a weight to the pendulous portion : 

 in France the farmers attach a " sabot " filled with gravel. Favre of 

 Geneva, who notices this rude method, admits that a weight not exceed- 

 ing two pounds may be suspended from the membranes, which are col- 

 lected into a mass and tied with a piece of hemp. This method is, how- 

 ever, objectionable from several points of view. 



