635 
A CASE OF RUPTURE OF THE PARIETES OF THE 
ABDOMEN SUPERVENING ON THE PARTURITION 
OF A COW. 
By the same. 
On the 26th of June, 1840, I was requested to visit a cow, 
which, having passed the period of utero-gestation more than 
fifteen days, did not present any sign of approaching parturition. 
During several days there had been remarked a dropping of 
the belly to such a degree, that, the beast standing, it dragged 
on the ground. This strange appearance was first observed 
when the cowherd entered the stable one morning. During the 
succeeding eight days she did not appear to be incommoded by 
it : she continued to feed, and to take her rest, as usual ; but, 
on the 25th, she would not get up, and refused every kind of 
food ; the proprietor therefore sent for me. 
When I arrived, I found the cow lying on her right side, and 
seeming to suffer very much, but she made no effort to expel the 
foetus. I could feel the calf, still alive, at the lower part of the 
left flank, from which it was only separated by the parietes of 
the womb. This latter organ appeared to me to be altogether 
powerless. I thought that it might be useful to endeavour to 
excite some contractions in this organ, and which should be violent 
ones too, in order to effect the desired purpose, since they could 
not be seconded by the parietes, which were torn through the 
w'hole of their posterior part. I therefore gave her a considerable 
dose of savine. 
I was not deceived with regard to this ; for, two hours after the 
administration of the drink, the womb began to contract with so 
much violence, that it forced from its cavity in less than ten 
minutes, and without any assistance from me, a very large calf, 
well formed in every particular. The deliverance was a perfectly 
natural one, and, altogether, scarcely occupied a quarter of an 
hour. 
Being assured of the safety of the calf, I informed the pro- 
prietor that I had much fear with regard to the mother. I bled 
her to the extent of ten pounds, ordered some gruel to be made, 
and administered some slightly nitrated drinks. I then requested 
the owner to make me acquainted with the death of the cow' as 
soon as it occurred, and on the 28th I was requested to super- 
intend the dissection. 
It was four hours after her death when I arrived. The body 
being turned on its back, and the skin carefully elevated, the 
