DISEASES OF THE FCETVS. 3SU 



EmI'HYSKMA. 



Emphysema of the foetus is sometimes found to be a cause of dystokia. 

 Leconte mentions that he lias met witli a case in which a living fcotus 

 was partially emphysematous, the head and neck as far as the shoulders 

 being involved. 



This case is exceptional, however, as this condition is, as a rule, 

 observed only after the fa»tus has perished in the uterus. It sometimes 

 happens that during parturition the " water-hag " is ruptured before 

 the young creature has made sulVicient progress, or it may be in a bad 

 position. Tiie uterus then closely contracts on it, over the whole of its 

 surface, and it soon succumbs. In the course of two or three days its 

 tissues have become softened and decomposed ; the subcutaneous con- 

 nective tissue becomes distended with gases — the result of this decom- 

 position, and in a short time the entire carcase of the young creature 

 is inflated. This inflation directly distends the uterus, and the foetus 

 sometimes increases so immensely in volume as to cause rupture of the 

 walls of that organ. 



On approaching an animal in whicli tlie fa'tus is emphysematous, a 

 powerful stench is perceived coming from the vulva, the lining mem- 

 brane of which is of a yellowish-red tint. On introducing the hand 

 into the uterus, the inflated foetus crejiitates on pressure and the gas 

 can be moved beneath the skin ; the hair is loose and easily removed ; 

 the skin itself is often dry, and the fluids small in quantity. Gases are 

 not unfrequently disengaged in the fcetal membranes, and particularly 

 in the anmion. Bossetto' mentions a curious case of this description, 

 in which, after rupturing the membranes of a foetus that had been dead 

 in the uterus for some time, on withdrawing his hand from the vagina 

 there was a rush of carburetted hydrogen ; this became ignited by the 

 flame of a candle held some distance from the vulva of the pregnant 

 animal. The flame — ten to twelve inches long — ^burned for some time, 

 and the Cow did not appear to suffer. 



Indications. 



The dimness of the skin and the large volume of the foetus, as well 

 as the inertia of the uterus, are the obstacles to extraction. Conse- 

 quently, version and retropulsion cannot be beneficially resorted to 

 here ; but deep incisions may be practised on the surface of the body 

 of the fa>tus as far as the hand and knife can reach. The maternal 

 passages, as well as the foetus, should then be well lubricated with some 

 fatty agent, and if the carcase is in a favourable position traction may 

 be tried — cords and hooks being employed in a manner hereafter to be 

 described. If the position is not favourable, it nmst be corrected. 



Should mechanical extraction fail, then embryotomy must be prac- 

 tised. After the foetus has been removed, thorough cleansing of the 

 uterus will be necessary. 



In these cases, the practitioner should take every precaution against 

 danger to himself, as serious, even fatal, consequences have resulted 

 from putrid infection. Tlie hand and arm should be well smeared with 

 lard, and thorough ablution ought to be practised immediately after the 

 operation is over. 



POLVS.VUtl.V. 



German authors only, so far as I can ascertain, make mention of 

 this condition, in which there are abnormal accumulations of adipose 

 ' OxornaU di Vtterinaria Pracdca, 1859. 



