671 
Case of Difficult Parturition in a Cow. 
By the same . 
I thought, while writing you, I may as well mention another case 
which, perhaps, may not be unacceptable, as I find you do not 
often receive accounts of this nature, although as important to the 
country practitioner as any branch of the veterinary profession. 
About seven o’clock on the evening of the 27th of October last, 
I was sent for to see a Guernsey cow, the property of Major Wren. 
I was informed on my arrival that she had been in labour from two 
o’clock the same afternoon, and had made but little progress, al- 
though the throes were very powerful, and came on in quick suc- 
cession. On examination I found the two fore legs of the calf 
presenting. I passed my hand and arm up the vaginal passage, 
and for some time could not clearly ascertain the position of the 
head ; at length, by pressing back the fore parts in the uterus with 
my left hand and manipulating with my right, I discovered it to 
be turned back on the left side. I now withdrew my hand, in order 
to get a little rest; for persons who are in the habit of attending 
such cases know the benumbing sensation experienced in the hand 
and arm, by having it for any length of time in the uterus, opposed 
to its powerful contractions. I returned again to the attack, an 
assistant pressing back the fore parts as before. I now reached 
the ear, but, it being slippery, I could not retain it. I next got 
one of my fingers into the orbit, obtained a firm hold, and brought 
it a little forward, sufficient to reach the lower jaw ; I could not, 
however, get it in the passage, from the front teeth lacerating my 
fingers. I then, with a little difficulty, passed a cord, with a slip 
knot, around it, and by these means, after some time, succeeded in 
bringing the head in its proper position, when little more assist- 
ance was required, the throes continuing all this time very power- 
ful. I carefully removed the placenta, ordered a little warm gruel, 
and left her alone. Saw her the next morning — gave her an ape- 
rient. She was soon convalescent. 
Remarks on the present State of Veterinary Affairs. 
Before concluding this epistle, Messrs. Editors, may I claim 
your indulgence to offer a few remarks upon the existing state of 
affairs in the profession 1 I have viewed with extreme regret, in 
common with the majority of our members, for some time past, the 
opposition that has been offered to our general interests by a 
party who should have been, I presume, the last to have taken up 
arms, except in our defence ; nor could they have done so, had they 
