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156 BOVINE OBSTETEICS 



retarded, the faeces are more consistent than ordinarily, slight 

 tympanitis is present. An observing attendant possibly notices 

 straining, attributing it to attempts to pass the hardened 

 manure. Torsion occurring in the fourth or fifth month is not 

 followed by any other symptoms. Two or three days later the 

 animal improves, begins to eat and ruminates and appears 

 ■well. The whole process is even occasionally diagnosed by the 

 professional man on superficial examination as indigestion and 

 treated accordingly. 



The rectal examination, which must never be omitted in a 

 pregnant animal showing such symptoms, may at once explain 

 such symptoms. On exploration, we detect the spirals of the 

 twisted Cervix uteri. A vaginal examination folltDwing it 

 establishes the degree and direction of torsion. When preg- 

 nancy is more advanced, labor pains accompany the above 

 named phenomena. These pains are the result of venou^ stasis 

 in the uterus following torsion. These symptoms, quite per- 

 sistent, as well as the uterine contractions assisted by the 

 abdominal muscles, lead us to think of parturition. This 

 ensemble furnishes a picture of torsio uteri immediately before 

 parturition, so frequently seen, and therefore of great import- 

 ance to obstetrics. 



Symptoms of torsio uteri at the time of parturition. — Anybody 

 who has met torsio uteri frequently in practice recognizes this 

 condition in a cow by the history of the ease. The attendant 

 usually reports as follows : 



"The time the cow should calve has come or passed by 

 several days. Yesterday or the day before yesterday, I thought 

 she was going to have a calf, as I saw symptoms, observed in 

 the preliminary stage. The cow paddled behind, got tip and 

 down frequently, strained, rested a while and started anew, so 

 that I expected her to find a calf at every moment. As yet 

 nothing has shown itself, no water-hag, no foetal water. I 

 believe that something is wrong." 



The owner usually does not know whether the calf is still 

 alive or dead. The examination reveals the following: The 

 cow stands quietly, the udder is filled, the ligaments are either 



