MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



Maternal dystokia may be dependent upon a great variety of 

 causes. Any general disease or disorder which may unfavorably 

 afEect the maternal system may render the pregnant animal in- 

 competent to expel the fetus ; that is, maternal dystokia may be, 

 and frequently is, dependent upon constitutional disturbances of 

 the maternal system. 



A majority of the cases of maternal dystokia are due to some 

 defect, disease or displacement of the genital organs or to disease 

 of the maternal pelvis. Maternal dystokia may consequently be 

 said to be either systemic or organic. 



I. Inadequate Expulsive Powers. 



Systemic causes of dystokia, of whatever kind, may be con- 

 sidered in a single group, since they ultimately induce the one 

 phenomenon of inadequate power, on the part of the mother, to 

 expel a normal fetus, in normal presentation and position, 

 through a normal birth canal. Anything which interferes with 

 the general health of the animal and causes extreme emaciation 

 or weakness may at the same time induce difficult labor, because 

 of the feeble contractions of the uterine walls, as well as insuf- 

 ficiency of the contractile powers of the abdominal muscles and 

 diaphragm. It is consequently not rare to meet with cases of 

 ill-fed animals, especially heifers or very aged cows, in which the 

 general debility of the system so affects the expulsive powers 

 that labor becomes more or less tedious or difficult. 



During some seasons in certain communities, the hay or other 

 food is of bad quality, the weather conditions may be bad, and 

 other unfavorable conditions arise which serve to cause great 

 emaciation of entire herds or all the cattle of a district. In such 

 instances maternal dystokia may become well nigh enzootic, es- 

 pecially involving immature heifers and aged cows. 



Such maladies as osteomalacie, page 423, and paraplegia, 

 page 43 1 , are frequently accompanied by dystokia, the debility 

 of the disease being accentuated by the decubitis. While volun- 

 tary recumbency is not inimical to parturition, involuntary 

 decubitis tends to cause dystokia. Hence disabling accidents, 

 43 673 



