DISPLACEMENT OF THE PREGNANT UTEEUS 145 



uteri the superior wall has become the lateral wall, provided a 

 quarter revolution took place. 



(a) ANTETEESIO, or INFERIOR OBLIQUITY, OF THE UTERUS. 



Descent of the uterus can only take place under certain 

 conditions, as in the horizontal posture of the domestic animals 

 the right lower abdominal wall supports the uterus and its 

 contents. 



In man the uterus may be flexed forward or backward 

 (anteversion and retroversion). Retroversio uteri does not take 

 place in the cow, at least has not yet been observed. 



Etiology. — Anteversio uteri occasionally occurs in the cow 

 (here the calf has sunk toward the udder, deviation en bas, 

 Eainard). Especially in pendulous bellies, or in old cows 

 which calved frequently, a state may occur where the lone; axis 

 of the pregnant horn is almost vertical. Such a deviation may 

 be caused by a hernia uteri or tearing of the rectus abdominis 

 muscle from the pelvis. 



Yau Lent (Holland) reports a case where in an eight-year- 

 old cow the right rectus abdominis tore loose from the pelvis. 

 This rupture happened six weeks before the end of gestation. 

 The belly descended until at last it touched the ground. The 

 owner was desirous of waiting for parturition in order to save 

 the calf. Birth terminated favorably, although the calf was 

 felt to be in an upright position. Some days later the cow was 

 killed. 



Symptoms. — This abnormality is of but little moment to 

 the mother during the period of gestation. The deviation, 

 taking place very gradually, does not interfere with the func- 

 tions of any organ ; but at birth the expelling powers cannot be 

 fully displayed on account of the descent of the uterus, and 

 expulsion becomes difficult. The dilatation of the cervix uteri 

 is insufficient; the preparatory stage, or the time when this 

 takes place, is very much prolonged. When exploring per 

 vaginam, the os uteri is found to be sufficiently opened that the 

 calf may be reached after practicing a few rotary movements 



