338 MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



how, and explained why, rotation should be made either in one direction 

 or the other. 



The operator need not endeavour to render the uterus perfectly im- 

 movable during the rolling, as it turns a good deal with the body of the 

 animal, and particularly when the mass of the rumen presses with all 

 its weight on the organ. This is also the reason why, according to 

 Zundel, a half or even quarter torsion requires for its reduction at 

 least a complete revolution of the body. It often needs a number 

 of turns to reduce the torsion, but generally two, three, or four are 

 sufficient. 



There is, therefore, no pressing necessity for maintaining the uterus 

 absolutely fixed while the Cow is being rolled ; indeed, as a rule it is 

 no easy matter to keep it at all near the desired position, there being a 

 great difficulty to find a part to cling to. The hand should rather be 

 employed in discovering the effects of the version, and finding when the 

 genital passage is patent. 



Violet attributed his insuccess in some instances to the want of 

 resistance he could oppose to the turning round of the uterus as the 

 Cow was rolled, when he held the feet of the foetus. He therefore tied 

 the two pasterns of the latter together, after he had brought them out of 

 the vagina, giving the cords to assistants wherewith to exercise gentle 

 traction. A thin piece of wood was passed between the legs of the 

 foetus, which served as a lever by which the creature was made to aid 

 in reducing the torsion, the Cow being rolled half round, rarely 

 altogether round, whenever moderate resistance was experienced. In 

 this way the spiral constriction was made to disappear and the genital 

 canal opened, without injury to Cow or Calf. 



It is always a very great advantage in an incomplete twist to pull the 

 foetus into it as much as possible, as its body can then be made a lever 

 in the way suggested by Violet. 



An important precaution in this operation has been notified by some 

 practitioners ; and that is to roll the Cow on a slightly inclined floor, 

 if possible. It may be observed, however, that while Wegerer and 

 others recommend that the hind quarters of the animal should be the 

 highest, Chambon and Liaufcard maintain that they ought to be lower 

 than the rest of the body. And we can scarcely be in doubt as to the 

 correctness of the latter opinion ; for in the position indicated, the 

 uterus falls towards the pelvic cavity, and this favours relaxation of 

 the torsion, and the more easy introduction of the hand through the 

 obstacle in the vagina, if it is desired to attempt to fix the organ by 

 the hand while rolling is taking place. 



Wegerer 's position — the hind quarters raised — is nevertheless to 

 be preferred if it is sought to fix the uterus by its own weight, when 

 the hand cannot be passed into the vagina, or cannot act advantageously 

 there. 



As in the majority of cases there is only incomplete torsion, and all 

 that has to be done is simply to replace the foetus, or rather the uterus, 

 on its bed or hammock, reposition can sometimes be effected by merely 

 I'olling the animal on its back. 



In some instances, when slow steady rolling will not suffice, a quick 

 or jerking roll may be successful ; in other instances it has been 

 found advantageous to place the animal on its back, and roll it from 

 side to side. 



Wegerer, Sacchero, Eueff, and some others have combined rolling 



