316 MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



reason why it should occur in one way more than another, as the foetus 

 is developed in either cornu irrespectively. Eeynal, however, believes 

 that the obliquity of the inner face of the rumen might dispose the 

 uterus to torsion towards the right. Chauveau is, we think, justified in 

 asserting that torsion always takes place inwards and upwards — the 

 foetus slipping off its hammock causes this to swing round either to the 

 right or left. 



The relative infrequency of this occurrence in the other domesticated 

 animals, is undoubtedly owing to the different arrangement of the 

 uterus and its suspensory ligaments. 



With regard to the frequency of the accident, this depends upon 

 several circumstances, the chief of which, perhaps, are related to the 

 nature of the country in which the animals are reared, as well as to the 

 manner of rearing them. This will explain, partly or wholly, why 

 veterinarians in one locality are familiar wdth the accident, while others 

 with as extensive experience never witness it. 



Leconte states that he has observed it about a dozen times, in 

 between three and four hundred cases of difficult parturition. Lemaire 

 has met with it seven times in four years ; and Eocco speaks of having 

 witnessed about thirty cases of uterine torsion during forty years' 

 practice. 



Etiology. 



Torsion of the uterus ordinarily occurs towards the termination of 

 pregnancy — about the eighth or ninth month, and its causes appear to 

 be very diverse, if we are to accept the numerous opinions which have 

 been offered on this point. 



The cause which, of all others, appears to operate most frequently in 

 producing this condition, is a slip or fall, and particularly od the hind 

 quarters — croup or hocks. 



For this reason, uterine torsion is oftenest witnessed among Cows at 

 liberty in pastoral countries where the ground is broken, intersected, or 

 hilly. Therefore it is, also, that the accident is not at all uncommon in 

 Switzerland and the hilly parts of South Germany ; while it is almost 

 unknown on the plains, and is very rare indeed among Cows kept in 

 sheds. 



Sometimes the Cow has slipped upon its hind-quarters and tumbled 

 over, through coming in contact with another. Mai'lot and Liautard 

 have seen it arise from a horn thrust in the flank by a companion Cow, the 

 blow throwing the foetus and the uterus round to the opposite side. It 

 has occurred in a Cow which was often butting with others. Chambon 

 has noted it in a Cow w4iich was in the habit of rolling like a horse ; 

 Dagoureau reports it occurring in a pregnant Cow which leapt on others 

 like a Bull, and Liautard in another that used to get its fore feet in the 

 manger. Eocco states that it is produced in shoeing at the forge, w^hen 

 pregnant Cows are either thrown down or put in the travis to he shod ; 

 and Eueff mentions a case in which it happened through casting a Cow 

 for the purpose of performing an operation on it. In other instances it 

 has been ascribed to falling when jumping a ditch, or slipping up wben 

 descending a steep hill. 



Eeynal, Mignon, Chambon, Weber, and others, appear to consider 

 meteorism as one of the most certain and most frequent causes of 

 uterine torsion, through the displacement of the viscera which the dis- 

 tension occasions. Either the expansion of the rumen induces unusual 



