866 Veterinary Obstetrics 



Fleming advises scarifications in cases of extensive extravasa- 

 tions, though he admits that Cartwright had an unfortunate 

 experience through the wounding of a large vein. Apparently 

 in this instance he was dealing with a general extravasation of 

 blood in the connective tissue, and here of course a single 

 puncture or division of the mucous membrane would not permit 

 the escape of the blood. As a general rule, in these cases, the 

 extravasated blood will be safely resorbed by the tissues, if they 

 are given that opportunity. Scarifications, on the other hand, 

 open an inviting avenue for serious infection. They had best be 

 omitted and, in their stead, careful cleansing and disinfection 

 maintained until resorption occurs. 



17. Relaxation of the Pei.vic Symphysis. 



Fleming, citing Gillis, records one instance of what was diag- 

 nosed as relaxation of the symphysis of the pelvis, as a 

 consequence of parturition, but the diagnosis was not verified 

 by post-mortem examination or by other conclusive evidence. 

 In this case a cow had some difficulty in expelling a calf, after 

 which she could scarcely rise when down, or walk when upon 

 her feet, and her hind quarters swayed from side to side. The 

 sacro-iliac articulations appeared to be tender. When the ani- 

 mal was moved, there seemed to be some motion in the ischio- 

 pubic symphysis. The condition remained permanent, and the 

 animal was prepared for the butcher. 



18. Contusions of the I/Umbo-Sacral Nerves. 



The lumbo-sacral plexus of nerves is so disposed, in domestic 

 animals, that certain trunks are somewhat subject to impingment 

 between the bony walls of the pelvis and prominent, unyielding 

 portions of the fetus, by which they may become more or less 

 seriously contused and their functions interrupted. The prob- 

 ability of these nerves becoming injured during parturition is not 

 alike for all the trunks, the gluteal and obturator nerves being 

 especially exposed, where they pass over the articular eminence 

 between the last lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae, while the 

 obturator nerve again becomes exposed to injury as it rounds the 

 margin of the obturator foramen. See Fig. i, page 4. 



