DIFFICULT PARTURITION IN COWS. 437 
bladder much distended, occupying the place of, or rather pressing 
upon, the vagina. 
On emptying the bladder I found a stricture of the os uteri to 
that degree that the opening would only admit the finger. I di- 
vided the stricture laterally, dilated the passage with great care, 
and extracted without assistance a fine lively quey calf. 
On farther examination I found another, the fore leg only 
presenting, and the head turned back on the shoulder. This mis- 
placed limb was put into position without much difficulty ; but the 
other fore leg was fixed so firmly, that several times I came to the 
resolution to excise it at the shoulder ; but, as the calf was alive, I 
was anxious to preserve both. I tried turning the cow. This 
succeeded ; for it caused the leg to change its position into one 
which enabled me to fix a cord upon it, and with another placed 
upon the under jaw, simply to keep the head in position, I soon 
extracted a large bull calf in perfect soundness. The cow, how- 
ever, died two days after from fever, begun before assistance was 
rendered. I have no doubt, had delivery been effected two or 
three days earlier, that she would have been saved. 
Another cow, with her first calf, belonging to Mr. A. Melrose, 
of Edinburgh, was attended the same day as the last. The head 
was turned back on the shoulder, and the calf lying on its back. 
Professor Simpson’s method of turning, by operating on the under 
leg, was successfully put into practice in this case, and a fine calf 
extracted. 
The placenta should be immediately removed in all cases of 
difficult parturition. It will be always found adhering to the co- 
tyledons, upon the internal surface of the uterus. In order to 
remove it completely, grasp the protruding part, twist it several 
times round, but, by all means, avoid pulling. Follow each of the 
parts (which will have become tight by the twisting) to its attach- 
ment to the cotyledon, inside the uterus, where they must be de- 
tached, one by one, either by dividing them between the finger 
and thumb, or, if too strong, by twisting them twice round the 
fore-finger, and breaking them off. These attachments will be 
found about a dozen in number, and must be hurt as little as pos- 
sible in being broken off. It is likewise proper, in all cases of dif- 
ficult parturition, to give a smart dose of physic. 
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VOL. XIX. 
