THE FEMALE QENEEATIVE OEGANS. 461 



Hydrops Uteri is not frequently possible. Thus, as in 

 that disorder, the accumulated fluid must be evacuated 

 through the os uteri. In the ' Veterinary Journal,' vol. iii, 

 October, is recorded a case of firm union of the foetus, 

 membranes, and uterine walls, probably resulting from 

 endometritis. 



Haie balls — ^GAGEOPiLES — are occasionally seen in the 

 liquor amnii. This fluid consists largely of the products 

 of excretory action of the skin; the aggregation of the 

 hairs results from the regular movements of the mem- 

 brane which are known to take place in the living 

 animal. 



The cause of difficult parturition often resides in the 

 cow. The passages in a normal state may be too small 

 for the calf, as when a small cow has been put to a very 

 large bull, or the parts may not have sufficiently relaxed. 

 In the latter case enough time may not have been allowed 

 for relaxation of the os to take place, then the practitioner 

 must wait and mark the progress of the case. Often 

 there is some actual impediment present. Thus, there 

 may have been fracture of the os innominatum, with a 

 considerable deposition of callus, or some exostosis or 

 other tumour ^pressing upon the genital passages. Such 

 cases are most formidable and generally necessitate opera- 

 tive interference. 



There may be tumoues in the genital passages ; such 

 growths in the vagina are of a fibromatous, lipomatous, or 

 serous cystic character. They must be incised if cystic, 

 and removed by ligament or the ecraseur otherwise. They 

 are often appreciable only on manual exploration. Of 

 course the progress of parturition is gravely affected both 

 by the position and size of such growths. Another cause 

 preventing expulsion of the foetus is impeeeoeate vagina, 

 due either to congenital malformation or to inflammation 

 of that passage. This may be complete or partial. In 

 the former case there is retention of the products of 

 oestrum, and sooner or later severe straining sets in. The 

 state of the parts can be detected on exploration, and the 

 animal generally has not been known to take the bull.. 



