701 
Analysis of Continental Journals. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
OBSERVATIONS ON INVERSION OE THE VAGINA OF 
THE COW. 
By M. Denetjbotjrg. 
The inversion of the vagina is of frequent occurrence in 
the cow. I have never seen it in the mare (the author 
observes), though M. Walravens states that he has seen five 
cases in the mare ; no doubt it seldom occurs in the equine 
species. In the females of the smaller species it would be of 
little interest in a practical point of view ; all we shall state 
on this subject will, therefore, have reference to the female 
of the bovine species. The principal cause of the inversion 
of the vagina, the author says, is in the constitution and the 
conformation of the animals, which in general is that of good 
milkers; in fact, it occurs about the time of parturition, or 
after a prolonged stabulation in badly-constructed sheds. 
Animals most subject to it are the best milkers, and often in 
perfect health disposed to fattening, very fecund, and with a 
strongly developed pelvic region. This agrees with the 
opinion of the late director of the Veterinary School at 
Lyons, in his treatise -on parturition, in which he informs us 
that all practitioners are agreed that cows in calf, of a lym- 
phatic constitution are exposed to it ; and he adds that the 
Swiss breed of Fribourg, which is kept in the dairies of the 
vicinity of Lyons, are strongly disposed to this affection. In 
some cases it appears when the cows are not in calf, while 
in others, on the contrary, it appears at the commencement 
of gestation, to disappear when the period is more advanced, 
and reappear at the time of parturition. In others, again, 
it only occurs a short time before parturition, and becomes 
more intense in proportion as the latter progresses. Lastly, 
in some instances it is permanent, whether the animal is in 
a state of gestation or not before as well as after parturition. 
Without entering any further into the explication of the 
phenomenon in its development and its progress, which are 
not important, we may say that a protrusion of the vagina, 
when the animal is down, is not of any consequence, 
it is only necessary to place the animal in the shed, so 
as to elevate the posterior part somewhat higher than the 
anterior, more particularly when in the subcumbent position. 
Nevertheless, if the cow is in calf, and the protrusion is of 
