138 
A SINGULAR CASE OF A STILL-BORN CALF. 
I could reach Belvoir Park, her place of residence. On my arrival 
I found that she was just breathing her last, so that the whole 
mystery would soon be unfolded, and proof satisfactorily given 
whether the qualified veterinary surgeon or the sneering empiric 
were most to be depended on. 
Post-mortem examination . — The abdominal viscera were in a 
healthy condition, except the uterus, which contained, though 
in an emaciated state, a perfectly formed and full-grown foetus, 
with a full set of yearling teeth. The foetal membranes, as well 
as the liquor amnii, were absorbed, and the foetus was adhering in 
several places to the womb. The umbilical cord was quite per- 
fect, and through which the circulation had regularly gone on, 
without interruption, to the time of dissolution. This, I think, 
will account for the foetus not having undergone decomposition. 
In fact, it had become part and parcel of the mother. 
The os uteri was nearly closed, not admitting more than a man’s 
finger, and being, in my opinion, the cause of retention. 
The heart was very much diseased, its cavities being greatly 
dilated, and the whole fibrous portion wasted and flabby : indeed, 
I could compare it to nothing more appropriate than a wet leather 
bag. The lungs were saturated with tubercles and vomicae. 
P.S. Since writing the above I have called to my recollection 
that this same cow had difficult parturition two years ago. I 
happened to be at Sir Robert’s on business at the time, and, taking 
a look amongst the cattle, I perceived three men pulling with all 
their might an unfortunate calf, to which a rope was attached, and 
that was suffering severely through their ignorance. The cow had 
been ill several hours, but no efforts of theirs could render her any 
relief. 
The head of the calf being now jambed against the brim of the 
pelvis, I requested to be allowed to lend my assistance, and, when 
permitted, I passed my hand gently up the vagina, disengaged 
the head, and without much difficulty succeeded in relieving her of 
a splendid still-born calf. I tried to inflate the lungs with a pair 
of hand-bellows, but without avail. 
Might not this be the time when the cause of the stricture in the 
os uteri was produced by the maltreatment which the animal re- 
ceived in delivery, and which subsequently was the cause of death? 
It is called the rings by cow-leeches and farmers in this country, 
and is rather a common occurrence, and often terminating fatally. 
