10 
ON HYDROPS UTERI. 
Symptoms . — In the cowit does not take place, generally, to any 
great extent but from the fifth to the eighth month of utero-gesta- 
tion ; nor in other animals until they have been pregnant some 
time. At first it will be rather difficult to decide whether there 
is an undue secretion of the liquor amnii, as there may be twins 
or triplet foetuses; but when the animal becomes of such an 
enormous size as renders it evident to all around there is some- 
thing unusual going on, we must suspect the disease. There 
will often be straining and attempts made to urinate, and the urine 
will be ejected in small quantities — constipation of the bowels — 
appetite bad — great anxiety — increased respiration — disinclination 
to move about — coat unhealthy — shape contracted — udder small — 
abdomen becoming more and more distended and pendulous — spine 
curved downwards — and, as the disease increases, inability to rise. 
And not infrequently the abdominal muscles will become ruptured, 
and tremendous hernia take place. Now and then the symptoms 
will not be of this aggravated character, but the animal will appear 
in tolerable health and condition, and if it was not for the immense 
distention of the abdomen and her unsteady gait, little would seem 
to be amiss with her. In our diagnosis we may be a little puzzled 
to know whether it is hydrops uteri or ascites, as most of the pre- 
ceding symptoms may be present in the one case as in the other. 
To decide this point, I think nothing more will be necessary than 
for us to introduce the arm up the rectum, when we shall soon find 
the uterus distended, pressing against us, and almost preventing 
us from passing the hand up. If we still persevere, and get the 
arm up to the greatest extent, we shall be able to pass our hand 
over a large surface of the distended uterus. In ordinary cases of 
utero-gestation we are able to detect the foetus by external pres- 
sure ; but in many of these cases, from its smallness and the large 
accumulation of water, we are unable to do so. In ascites we fre- 
quently have anasarca of the abdomen ; not so in this disease. 
Causes . — Where this accumulation of fluid takes place, it most 
probably is the production of the membranes, brought on by some 
injury they have sustained, either by the movements of the foetus 
through the dam, or from some direct external injury. The latter 
I am inclined to believe is a great source of the disease, as 1 have 
known it to come suddenly on by these means. Burns, in his 
“ Principles of Midwifery,” says, “ that this is a disease of the 
ovum, and not of the mother; for even the foetus itself is often 
malformed, or, at least, blighted. The affection, in toto, may be 
considered as a species of monstrous conception. Some particular 
condition of the parent may, however, in certain cases, occasion it. 
For instance, it may be connected with a syphilitic taint in either 
the father or the mother ; or with some less obvious cause, impair- 
