TOKSIOy OF THE UTKRUS. .117 



and inordinate movements on the part of tlae fcutus ; or it acts din-ctly 

 on the uterus, and produces displacement of the or^an tlu'ougb tho 

 changes in situation and relations imposed on the other abdominal 

 organs. Mr. Cartwriglit, of Whitchurch, was of opinion that great dis- 

 tension of the stomach may, oitlier of itself, or especially in connection 

 with a fall, cause the uterus to be forced on one side, or twisted. 



Other authorities, among whom we find Ercolani, attiibute the acci- 

 dent to severe toil when Cows are worked — as in draught ; others, to 

 deformity or malposition of the fu'tus ; and others, again, think it may 

 be mainly, if not exclusively, due to the spontaneous and energetic 

 movements of the fuitus in utcro, towards the termination of pregnancy. 

 It is well known that these movements are sometimes very lively and 

 powerful, and especially when induced by sudden jerks or blows 

 intlicted on the pregnant animal, or when the abdomen is compressed, 

 after the ingestion of cold water, etc. There can be no doubt that the 

 movements which the fcetus executes in order to get rid of uncomfort- 

 able sensations or avoid unpleasant positions, gives rise to those various 

 attitudes and mal-presentations which so frecjuently render birth dilVi- 

 cult, if not impossible ; and their occurrence may also explain how the 

 young creature may be the means of causing the cornu in which it is 

 contained, to roll and twist around the vacant cornu on the opposite 

 side. In this way Colin endeavours to account for those cases in which 

 the uterus has made several revolutions on itself when the movements 

 persist — a very rare accident, it is true ; while he admits that the 

 (juarter or half revolutions — which are, after all, most frequent — may 

 occur without the active intervention of the fcetus, or even of the uterus, 

 and may take place through falls or slips. 



Torsion from the above cause is all the more feasible, as at 

 the end of pregnancy the amniotic and allantoic fluids are diminished 

 in quantity, and the membranes and uterus are therefore applied closer 

 to the foetus, and may follow its movements moru readily. 



Chambon and other veterinarians are of opinion that the irregular 

 and often violent movements whicli the pregnant animals, and especi- 

 ally primipara', manifest when the labour pains commence — lying down 

 and getting up again, throwing themselves first down on one side, then 

 on another, and sometimes even rolling — are the most frequent cause of 

 torsion, which, according to them, only takes place at parturition. The 

 latter opinion is supported by a case described by Landel, in which, 

 when he made a first exploration of the genital passage at the com- 

 mencement of birth, there was no obstruction ; but soon after, on again 

 exploring, he found that torsion of the cervix uteri had occurred in the 

 inten-al. 



Other authorities have supposed the accident to be occasioned by 

 premature straining in parturition, before the os is sufliciently dilated; 

 while others, again, have attributed it to pregnant Cows in sheds not 

 having enough space to lie down. 



Lessona and a few others believe that the accident may be due to the 

 habit that certain Cows have of roUing themselves alternately from 

 right to left when they are lying. On the sternum they may do this ; 

 but though among Solipeds and other animals rolling on the back is a 

 perfectly natural movement, yet it is rarely if ever witnessed in the 

 Bovine species. Sternal or abdominal rolling could scarcely produce 

 displacement of the uterus. 



Ruptme of one or both of the broad ligaments has been indicated by 



