IMPERFORATE VAGINA IN A HEIFER. 
141 
Case III. 
Vagina Imperforate in a Heifer. 
Dec. 1 st, 1847. — A messenger from Mr. Joseph Nicholson, 
Shiregreen, Sheffield Park Farm, requested me to go and see a 
heifer, about eighteen months old. I accordingly went to the 
place. On inquiry, I was informed she had been several weeks 
unwell. 
Present Symptoms. — Constant erection of the tail; setting her 
back up; straining, and passing small quantities of urine. From 
these symptoms I was led to believe that there was some affection 
of the bladder or kidneys; and, as the heifer had been in the 
straw-yard, exposed to the weather, I ordered her into the cow- 
house, to be kept warm, and have linseed dust or cake, and a little 
hay ; and to take a laxative, combined with fever medicine. 
4/A. — I found her much worse in every way. I introduced my 
arm up the rectum, to ascertain in what state the bladder was, and 
found it distended with urine. I introduced a human male gum 
catheter into the bladder, and drew off about two quarts of urine, 
which appeared of its proper colour. From this I concluded that 
the disease was not in the bladder or in the kidneys ; nevertheless, 
as yet I had not discovered the true seat of disease. I gave the 
same medicine, and ordered the like diet until I should see her 
again. 
8/A. — All the symptoms much worse ; pulse 100, and she lying 
almost upon her back, straining in the most pitiable manner, with 
her head and neck out at full stretch, and her forehead flat on the 
ground, and jaws uppermost. I examined her, per rectum , again, 
and this time discovered the womb to be much enlarged, as far, at 
least, as I could trace it through the rectum. The nature of the 
disease now at once struck upon my mind. It was, thought I, a 
case of imperforate vagina. I immediately withdrew my arm from 
the rectum, and commenced an examination of the vagina, and I 
found it to be, about two inches beyond the meatus urinarius, im- 
pervious. I informed the owner there was no chance but through 
an operation, and that he must not be surprised if she died even 
then, though she would certainly do so without it. He at once 
put her into my hands to do as appeared best. 
9/A. — Much the same as on the 8th. I now had her secured, she 
being already down, and emptied the bladder with the catheter. I 
then took in my left hand a trocar, such as cattle are tapped with 
when the rumen has become inflated with gas ; the blade about six 
inches long. Separating the labia pudendi, I adjusted the point of 
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