52 



BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



DIFFERENCES THE RESULT OF AGE. 



The pelvis of a two year old heifer differs materially from 

 that, of an adult. It is of practical interest to describe a 

 young or juvenile pelvis. In the bovines, ossification of the 

 diaphysis with the epiphysis of the ilium only occurs at the age 

 of two and a half years. In contradistinction to the solipeds, 

 ossification in the bovines is from behind to before, so that 

 there is first firm union of the ischium with the posterior 

 branch of the pubis, and then pubic union (St. Cyr and 

 Violet). 



In a two-year-old heifer the symphysis is not yet ossified; 

 this explains the fact, frequently seen in practice, that a heifer 

 stands the forcible extraction of a calf better than a grown 

 cow. How often does it not happen that eight to ten people 

 together extract a calf from a heifer, or that other barbarous 

 means are employed — for instance, a wagon wheel or lever — 

 and that the owner reports a favorable termination. Such a 

 happy course must be attributed, first, to the wanting ossifica- 

 tion of the symphysis, and, second, to the elasticity of the 

 juvenile pelvis, permitting of a slight transverse expansion. 



The pelvis of a two-year-old heifer differs from a grown 

 one as follows: The wings of the sacrum are Bhortei ami 

 narrower. The greatest width of the pelvis is less, the inlet is 



