176 Veterinary Obstetrics 



b}' other agencies, such as the mesometrium, vagina, diaphragm 

 of the pelvis, etc. The pelvic ligaments are thereby relaxed and 

 sink inwards. This very simple and plausible theory of Berdez 

 is opposed by Zschokke because, according to his inv-estigations, 

 drawing in the direction of the rectus abdominis muscle does 

 not produce the effects described nor can the unilateral sinking 

 frequently observed in practice be explained by that theory. What 

 effect the contraction of the rectus abdominis muscle exerts is 

 not stated by Zschokke. 



Fuhrimann ' was enabled for the first time, in our ambulatory 

 clinic, to recognize that sinking of the sciatic ligaments occurs 

 in various diseases of the genital organs, as well as of the milk 

 glands, and is not at all confined to di.seases of the ovaries. He 

 was further able to induce sinking of the broad ligaments of the 

 pelvis experimentally by inserting kelp pencils in the cervix uteri. 

 From these data it follows that any sufficiently powerful irrita- 

 tion in any portion of the genital tract is capable of inducing 

 sinking of the broad ligaments of the pelvis. The previously 

 accepted theory of infiltration of the ligaments must, therefore, be 

 abandoned . 



The measurements taken by Fuhriman on the prepared pelvis 

 have further indicated that the stretching and relaxation of the 

 pelvic ligaments through flexion of the ilio-.sacral articulation 

 may be induced, as claimed by Berdez, and that these movements 

 are greatly favored in the cow becau.se of the extraordinary 

 mobility of the lumbo-sacral articulation, especially by the sink- 

 ing of the loins. It is recognized that a mild grade of physio- 

 logic sinking of the broad ligaments of the pelvis occurs often 

 during normal estrum, also in a normal manner 8 to 15 days 

 before calving or, under .some conditions, such as high feeding 

 and having to lie on sloping floors, it even occurs 4 to 6 weeks 

 ante partum, and normally di.sappears inside of 8 to 12 days after 

 parturition. 



In cases where the relaxed condition of the pelvic ligaments 

 persisted on one or both sides throughout the entire duration of 

 pregnancy and at times even embraced several con.secutive preg- 



* Fuhrimann, Uber die Senkung der breiten Beckenbander beim Rinde. 

 Berner Inaugural-Dissertation 1906 und Archiv. fur wissent.schaftliche und 

 praktisclie Tierheilkunde, Bd. 32, 1906. 



