A SINGULAR CASE OF A STILL-BORN CALF. 
137 
from the heat, swelling, and tenderness of those parts, that suppu- 
ration had commenced. She was greatly reduced from what I 
had seen her before, both in appearance and strength. Her sides 
were partially collapsed, and her anxious look was expressive of 
general suffering. As might be expected, she had nearly refused 
every kind of forage. 
From all these symptoms I unhesitatingly gave it as my opi- 
nion that she must have had an abortion, and, if so, the placenta 
was remaining in the uterus, or, otherwise, there was a dead calf 
in her. My opinion, however, was treated with derision, as she 
had taken the bull but two days previous to my visit, and, owing 
to her not having held to him the season before, she had not had a 
calf for two years. I replied that, notwithstanding this, my opinion 
remained unaltered. I would at once have tested it by an exami- 
nation per vaginam, and operated, had it not have been for the dis- 
heartening manner in which my opinion had been received. In addi- 
tion to this, I never had witnessed a case of this kind, and dreaded 
the possibility of mistake, which, if there had been, would have in- 
jured my professional reputation. Taking, therefore, all things 
into consideration, I thought it best to let matters take their course, 
as I felt convinced that, unless some great change soon took place, 
the animal must die. In the mean time I ordered her to be plen- 
tifully drenched with oatmeal gruel, in order to hasten the suppu- 
rative process. Fomentations of hot water and linseed poultices 
were applied to the udder; some mild aperients were given, as 
the bowels were constipated, and tonics were afterwards substi- 
tuted, in order to restore the appetite as far as possible. 
The udder suppurated, and was opened, but, notwithstanding, 
the indurated swelling continued. Iodine ointment was afterwards 
daily applied, and with considerable benefit. The milky secretion 
continued, but the quantity was limited ; it was, however, regu- 
larly removed. That which seemed most remarkable, every time the 
mammae were rubbed, was an effort made to expel the contents 
of the womb. The sacrum was depressed, the tail elevated, the 
limbs drawn under the body, and the abdominal muscles being in 
action. 
The unfortunate animal continued in this deplorable state for 
nearly nine months, during which time the symptoms of dissolu- 
tion increased slowly, but progressively. Having long abandoned 
the case as hopeless, I made it a particular request that, in the 
event of the' cow being destroyed or dying, I should be informed of 
it, so that I might have the opportunity of a post-mortem exa- 
mination. 
After long and anxious waiting, a messenger arrived to apprise 
me that my old patient would probably have departed this life ere 
VOL. XVIII. u 
