EXTRA-UTERINE GESTATION. 
197 
is my aim, — fall as short of it as 1 may or probably shall do. 
Experience has taught me, as I am confident it must have 
many others, that in the bustle of an extensive practice the 
most observant practitioner will often fail to give to the 
gleanings of daily practice that value which only extensive 
reading and deep study can impart to them. The first case 
I select is one of — 
EXTRA-UTERINE GESTATION. 
There is no doubt that true cases of extra-uterine gestation 
are extremely rare. When foetuses are found in a more or 
less perfect state, free in the abdomen, the ova have doubtless 
found their way as usual into the uterus, from which ulti- 
mately they have obtained exit by rupture, and thus they 
have been improperly incubated. 
Rupture of the uterus and escape of the foetus may occur, 
as is well known, either at or before the time of parturition. 
I here have, however, to relate a very singular case of extra- 
uterine gestation, which 1 had the opportunity of witnessing 
while assisting in the practice of Mr. Bowman, of Howden, 
in Yorkshire. 
In the month of December, 1851, we were called in by 
Mrs. N to attend a valuable sow, which had been ill for 
some time, and should have pigged four weeks before our 
attendance was sought. Some mistake, however, was 
supposed to exist as to the precise time she was put to the 
boar, the general external appearances of approaching par- 
turition not being present. 
The symptoms manifest at the time we saw her were, loss 
of appetite, obstinate constipation, a peculiar or painful 
grunt, and a lying on her left side with her leg held out, as 
if to take the weight of it off the abdomen. When standing 
she would support herself against the wall, and then 
gradually drop down as easily as possible. A hard mass 
could be distinctly felt on manipulating the abdomen, 
especially towards the left side : the pain on pressure was 
intense. 
A correct diagnosis being at first extremely difficult to 
make ; to alleviate the symptoms, we prescribed hot fomen- 
tations to the abdomen, the exhibition of clysters, and the 
following draught : — 
I;k Sol. Aloes, ^ij ; 
01. Lilli, §ij ; 
'l'inct. Opii, 5iv. M. 
