ON HYDROPS UTERI. 
11 
ing the action of the womb, but not directly producing a miscar- 
riage; with lunacy or idiotism; or with a state of general or 
uterine debility, or with an original imperfection of the ova in the 
ovarium. All of these causes do not operate uniformly to the 
same extent, but the foetus suffers in proportion to their operation. 
It is either born very feeble and languid, and is reared with diffi- 
culty, or it dies almost immediately, or it perishes before labour 
commences ; and this is generally the case when the diseased state 
exists to any great degree.” 
That this is sometimes a disease of the ovum may be true ; 
yet 1 see no reason why the foetus, after it has been perfectly 
formed, and has lain growing in the uterus for some months, may 
not become obstructed in its growth, in consequence of the uterus 
or foetal membranes having received some injury from without, 
whereby an increased quantity of the liquor amnii may be thrown 
out and may press upon it, and thus either cause its death, or pre- 
vent its coming to maturity. Besides, we can well imagine that, 
where this great deposition of fluid is taking place, the nutrition of 
the foetus must be impeded, independent of the pressure. That 
the womb may become even sympathetically diseased, in connec- 
tion with other of the large viscera, we have every reason to be- 
lieve; but at present we are not sufficiently acquainted with the 
symptoriisof the different tissues of this organ to clearly define the 
sympathy of each part. 
Treatment . — I have seen many cases where the animal has be- 
come enormously large, and unable to get up without being inter- 
fered with; at other times they have fallen on their way, and 
have been drawn home upon a gate, and in this state they have 
continued until either natural or premature labour has come on, or 
the animal has died. I must say, that where the animals’ time of 
utero-gestation was nearly expired, and so long as they appeared 
in tolerable health, and were active, I would not interfere with 
them — only keep them quiet and about home. I know of one 
case where, although she was pretty well over night, she was 
found dead the next morning, and nothing but this disease was 
observed on her after death ; and no particular symptom, except 
the great distention of the abdomen, was noticed prior to her 
death. 
As soon as we are satisfied about the existence of the disease, 
and of our determination to remove all or part of the fluid, our best 
treatment will be, so as to avoid a rupture of the abdominal muscles 
or other consequences, to introduce the arm up the vagina, and then 
with the finger to dilate the os uteri, so as to rupture the mem- 
branes. We should then introduce a catheter or canula into the 
opening, to discharge the liquid. Frequently, in the course of a day 
