hifecHons of the Ovum, Embryo and Fetus 485 



been bred and is presumably pregnant, but the symptoms 

 of advancing pregnancy are absent or, if the pregnancy is 

 well advanced when the fetus dies, the symptoms are retro- 

 . grade. In one of my cases the cervical atresia was incom- 

 plete and some portions of the fetal membranes protruded 

 from the vulva, but the constricted cervical canal afforded 

 insufficient exit. The cervical canal became blocked, possi- 

 bly by a large portion of the fetal cadaver. The uterus ad- 

 hered to, and finally opened into the rumen. Fetal debris 

 passed into the rumen and caused several attacks of fetid 

 diarrhea. Whole grains of corn (maize) and oats entered 

 the uterus. The heifer suffered little in her general health, 

 milked fairly, grew fat, and was sold for beef. In a second 

 case, from the abattoir, the uterus adhered to the urinary 

 bladder, as illustrated in Fig. 172. The general tendency 

 appears to be for the uterus to adhere to, and rupture into, 

 one of the hollow viscera. Which one, will depend some- 

 what upon the stage of pregnancy at which maceration and 

 abscessation occur. In early pregnancy the bladder or rec- 

 tum forms the most probable outlet; later in pregnancy, 

 after the fetus drops forward, the rumen is the most logical 

 viscus into which the uterus may empty its contents. 



(2) Uterine torsion regularly causes occlusion of the 

 cervical canal. Most patients die unless surgically relieved, 

 but rarely the cow survives and the fetal cadaver macerates. 

 In some instances there occurs a transverse rupture of the 

 genital tube in the vagina, cervix, or uterine body, and the 

 uterus with the fetus drops downward upon the abdominal 

 floor. The fetus macerates but the ruptured end of the 

 uterus is closed by the enveloping uterine ligaments like 

 the mouth of a bag tied with twine. The uterine walls re- 

 tain some life through one or more of the uterine vessels, 

 the organ adheres to the abdominal floor, and finally the ab- 

 scess points externally and the fetid fetal debris drops out. 

 Abscessation of the gravid uterus is hopeless so far as the 

 breeding life of the animal is concerned. The adhesions in- 

 cident to the abscessation bring about serious nutritive dis- 



