ON VETERINARY OBSTETRICY. 609 
cow some stimulants, but I was informed that she died shortly 
afterwards. 
Post-mortem examination . — The next morning I opened her. 
The peritoneum was considerably inflamed, but not as in the 
last case, and there was but little effusion into the abdomen. 
The uterus was next removed from its situation, and its interior 
laid open. There were two quarts of coagulated blood within it, 
on removing which, underneath was found a rupture of the mucous 
membrane and of portions of the muscular substance, and in one 
place there was an opening that would have permitted a foot to 
pass through clean into the abdomen. The former rupture was 
situated about the posterior parts of the fundus, extending in a 
circular direction nearly round the whole of the viscus. The other 
rupture was close up to it. Where the ruptures were situated 
the substance of the uterus was very much discoloured, and con- 
tained within its texture a quantity of extravasated blood ; but that 
portion which had not been injured was, on the contrary, very pale. 
The uterus had contracted very much. I have not the least doubt 
in the world that, had I been in attendance at an early period, I 
should have saved this cow ; but from it, I think, we may learn 
the lesson that, although the head and fore feet come in their 
natural position, we must not conclude, as a matter of certainty, 
that all is right, and only a little extra force is necessary to ex- 
tract it. It is well known to many, that a great number of calves 
“stick,” as it is called, at the hips, and require great strength to 
remove them ; but this case clearly shews that, after having un- 
successfully employed prudent power to extract them, we ought 
not, without making a further examination, to use brutal and un- 
justifiable force, as the obstruction may depend on other causes. 
As many of us are veterinary surgeons to the recently established 
Cattle Assurance Association, I cannot avoid alluding to the situ- 
ations we hold in connexion with the inspectors and managers. 
The last two cases belonged to farmers in this neighbourhood, and 
I scarcely doubt that I could have saved them both, and also one 
that I shall mention hereafter ; but according to the rules of the 
“ Mutual” (and these cases belonged to that society), “ the Asso- 
ciation will not interfere with the treatment of the usual veterinarian 
or farrier.” In many cases, as in the above, the farmers are ge- 
nerally their own farriers, or get the assistance of some ignorant 
neighbour. On the other hand, there is a rule that says “ The 
Association, however, will not pay for animals which may die 
from bad treatment directly caused by the owner, or by his insti- 
gation.” Now, I would ask any veterinary surgeon (and he only 
is the person competent to give an answer to the question), Did 
these animals, or did they not, die in consequence of bad treatment 1 
VOL. XVIII. 4 o 
