624 ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO PARTURITION. 



uterus, which was returned into the abdominal cavity without difficulty." A pessary was 

 introduced into the vagina, and the hind-quarters of the Cow elevated; emollient injec- 

 tions were employed, and stimulating draughts administered. On the following day 

 there was much fever and general disturbance. Blood was abstracted, febrifuge medi- 

 cine given, and a poultice applied to the loins. On the fourth day the pessary was with- 

 drawn, and a sanious fetid fluid escaped from the vulva. Vaginal injections were fre- 

 quently resorted to. In twelve days the Cow was turned out to graze, evidently re- 

 covered. 



4. Franyois {Annales de Med. Veterinaire de Bruxelles, 1877, p. 157) describes a case 

 of inversion of the uterus in a Cow, which was complicated by a rupture in the wall of 

 the organ, about eight inches in length. This rent was closed by suture, the uterus was 

 returned, and retained by a truss. The case did well. * 



5. Obich ( Wocheiischrift fi'tr 'Ihierheilkwtde jmd Viehzucht, 1869, p. 349) describes the 

 case of a Cow which, suffering from torsion of the uterus, had, during detorsion, a rent 

 made in the upper wall of the organ ; this rent was so large that the outspread hand 

 could be passed through it into the abdominal cavity. The animal was very ill for eight 

 days, but it gradually recovered without any treatment. 



0. Adam {Ibid., 1870, p. .411) mentions that a four-year-old Cow had a calf, and ap- 

 peared to be quite Well until ten days afterwards, when haemorrhage from the vulva was 

 observed; and on the following day there was loss of appetite, high fever, and greatly 

 accelerated pulse and respiration, and the animal showed such serious symptoms that 

 it was killed. On examination the uterus was found to be tolerably healthy, but in the 

 right cornu, which had contained the calf, was found a quantity of partially coagulated 

 blood, while the mucous and muscular coats were lacerated to the extent of nearly two 

 inches — the laceration commencing at the base of a cotyledon. In the pericardial sac 

 was some dark-red fluid, and the right endocardium was marked by large ecchymoses; 

 while the fourth compartment of the stomach, as well as the small intestine, had their 

 mucous membrane tumefied and very red, and that of the gall-bladder was ecchymosed. 

 All this pointed to a sudden attack of septikaemia, resulting from the laceration. 



7. Copeman ( Veterinary Record and Tra7tsactions,-\d\. v., p. 1 54) relates a case of rup- 

 ture of the uterus in a Cow, occurring after protracted labor. The rent was nearly eight 

 inches long, and about a foot from the os ; the small intestine passed through it into 

 the uterus. These were replaced, and Copeman held the edges of the laceration to- 

 gether for a quarter of an hour. No other treatment was adopted, and the animal re- 

 covered. 



8. Higginson {Veterinarian, vol. xiii., p. 395) was summoned to attend a Cow which 

 had calved five hours previously. He found complete inversion of the uterus, and the 

 fundus of the organ so lacerated as to allow a large portion of the small intestine to pass 

 through. This rupture was probably produced by an amateur who had tried to reduce 

 the inversion, but failed. The intestine was fir.st returned, and then the uterus, a truss 

 being applied. Stimulants, opiates, and febrifuge medicines were administered, and in 

 nine days the Cow was convalescent. This Veterinarian does not approve of sutures in 

 the uterus. 



9. At page 345 we have given an instance in which a rent in the uterus and vagina was 

 discovered to have cicatrized perfectly. 



10. Cartwright ( Veterinarian, vol. xv., p. 429) relates the case of a Cow from which a 

 calf had been forcibly extracted by an amateur on the previous day. On examination, 

 the uterus was found to be ruptured, and as the animal was evidently sinking it was 

 killed. At the neck of the uterus was a rent sufficiently large to admit a man's head. 

 The rectum was also torn. 



11. The same authority {Ibid.) states that he was called to a Cow, from which the 

 head, fore-limbs, and body of a calf had been removed. It was intended to extract the 

 hind extremities by the application of greater force, but on the amateur introducing his 

 arm they could not be found. Cartwright soon discovered that the uterus was ruptured 

 to a very great extent, and through the opening the limbs had receded. The Cow lived 

 for several hours after the accident, without evincing any pain or debility, and was ulti- 

 mately destroyed. 



12. This authority {Ibid., vol. xviii.) gives an account of a Cow which was most cruelly 

 dealt with by amateurs, while trying to deliver it of a calf in malposition. The extrac- 

 tion occupied two or three hours, during which time it was observed that the animal 

 breathed quicker than usual, and groaned very much; it also strained violently, though 

 this ceased immediately before delivery. It soon began to " breathe short, threw the 

 head about, moaned, and was restless." Death took place in about twenty-four hours. 

 The uterus was observed to be ruptured on its lower surface, to the extent of eicrhteen 

 inches in a straight line from the cervix towards the fundus. The abdomen contained 

 about two gallons of bloody serum, and the peritoneum was inflamed. 



13. Cartwright {Ibid.) gives another fatal case of rupture of the uterus, due to attempts 



