EMPHYSEMA OP THE F(ETUS 191 



tended, especially in the lower abdominal region. The general 

 state of health is more or less depressed, although such animals 

 may be apparently well, — even cover considerable distances. 

 The temperature is 39.5° to 40.5° C. 



"When the examination confines itself only to inspection, 

 the true course of the symptoms maybe overlooked, especially 

 as the pains are very feeble in such cases, and are only ob- 

 served with difficulty on account of the great distention of the 

 uterus. The failure to make a vaginal exploration would lead 

 to unfortunate consequences in such a case. In some animals 

 the attendant observes the discharge of the foetal waters, or 

 dejection of a fetid, chocolate-colored liquid from the vulva ; or 

 the secundinse may partly hang from the vulva. Such symp- 

 toms soon help us to recognize this condition. 



Exploration throws still more light upon the case. The 

 hand introduced into the vagina immediately feels the in- 

 creased heat in the parturient passage. Sometimes, as the 

 result of insufficient preparation for birth, the cervix uteri is 

 but little dilated ; the os uteri may be sufficiently dilated, but 

 in most cases no complete dilatation occurs, since the mechani- 

 cal dilatation by the water bag did not take place ; neverthe- 

 less, the hand can, as a rule, be passed into the uterus. 



The distended calf, tightly enveloped by its membranes, is 

 felt in front of the uterus. The uterus, mostly contracted, is 

 moulded upon the calf when the greater portion of the fcetal 

 waters has escaped. By stroking the calf with the hand a 

 distinct crackling is observed as the gases accumulated beneath 

 the skin are displaced by the pressure of the hand. The calf 

 feels like dough. It is rounded in shape, the hairs are easily 

 pulled out, the claws sometimes can be stripped off, unless 

 they are already lying in the uterine cavity. When putrefac- 

 tion is far advanced the bones of the head separate at the 

 sutures, and the epiphyses and diaphyses of the long bones 

 can be drawn apart. The whole gives off an unbearable stench, 

 adhering for days to the clothing. A dirty brownish, fetid 

 liquid escapes from the vulva during and after the exami- 

 nation. In multiple gestation, it happens occasionally that 



