THE CvESAREAN OPERATION, FALSE LABOUR, &C. 3/7 
being a stranger to me, and the case a hopeless one, I hesitated 
very much about the undertaking ; but he being pressing, I 
ultimately agreed to pay her a visit. On arriving at my 
patient’s, I found her in a most deplorable condition, unable to 
make the least use of her limbs. I now for the first time learnt 
she had been gradually succumbing for the last three weeks. 
After viewing her generally, I likewise made an examination 
per vaginam, and found the os uteri completely closed, without 
the least signs of preparation for calving. I gave it as my 
opinion that it arose more from the pangs of death than from 
the efforts of nature to relieve her that such violent struggles 
took place. There appearing, therefore, no possibility of the 
cow surviving even a few hours, and as we strongly suspected 
that the foetus was dead, not having seen it move after my 
arrival, I strenuously advised that she should be destroyed, 
which was immediately agreed to, and was accomplished by 
blowing air into the jugular vein. Just as she was about to 
expire, the calf was seen to make a violent movement, when 
seizing on the opportunity for the sake of experiment (as it 
could be reckoned little else), I drew from my pocket a large 
clasp-knife, with which I am generally provided, and, heeding 
neither sections nor regions, immediately and almost instanta- 
neously cut away all obstruction between me and the little 
sufferer, and immediately dragged it forth into the broad glare 
of that luminary which gives life and vigour to all things. 
Thus was brought forth, weak and wavering, a progeny 
deemed to be dead, which by dint of good management we 
succeeded in animating and bringing to, and perfectlyrestoring; 
for in the space of two days it was able to drink milk without 
assistance. I kept sight of it for one month, when my employer, 
having another farm at a distance, where he himself resided, 
had it removed home, since which I have received no account 
of it, the distance from my residence to his being great. 
Mag 1 5th, 1851. — I was called to attend a heifer in her 
first parturition. The messenger stated at the time, that she 
had experienced the most violent pains, and was straining as 
though she would “ void her inside.” He had made an ex- 
amination ; but, somehow or other, could not get to the calf, as 
there was something that obstructed him ; but what, he could 
not tell. 
I visited the animal, and found her as described. In fact, I 
immediately discovered it to be one of those cases which I have 
described as false labour ; and which is well illustrated in a 
paper by Mr. Hayes, V.S. of Rochdale, in the April number of 
The Veterinarian for 1840, p. 209, to which I beg to refer 
the reader : as it would appear great affectation in me to presume 
VOL. XXIV. 3 F 
