495 
RETENTION OF THE FCETUS IN A COW, &C. 
least. I might have forced my finger into it. While examining 
the os uteri, I was surprised to find there was a ligamentous band, 
extending from the upper to the lower side of the vagina, of the 
thickness of a penny cord, nearly close to the os uteri. It was quite 
firm in its texture, and, on pulling at it, I drew the vagina back, 
and the band in sight, so that the by-standers could see it. I had 
it divided. She was at the time affected with pleuro-pneumonia, 
and on the 4th April she was slaughtered. 
Examination . — The right side of the lungs was hepatized. The 
uterus was about the size of a peck measure. It contained a 
quantity of reddish-coloured matter, bones, and putrid flesh. The 
matter lay, in a great measure, in the posterior parts of the horns. 
The posterior parts of the foetus were completely denuded of flesh, 
and lay floating in the matter. The ribs were also bare. The 
contents of the abdomen and thorax were not converted entirely 
into matter. The head and neck were the least denuded of flesh. 
The foetus could not have been more than five or six months old. 
The back of the neck lay against the os uteri, which was perfectly 
sound and contracted. The internal surface of the uterus varied 
in colour, and in many places it looked as if it had been torn or 
bruised ; but, taking every thing into consideration, it was re- 
markably healthy, when we consider what pressure it must have 
received, and also from lying in contact with so much purulent 
matter. The contents were not at all offensive in smell. The 
vagina was next laid open, which was sound. The band or liga- 
ment, that I before spoke of, took its rise from folds of apparently 
glandular substances of the vagina near to the os uteri, and was 
inserted into the opposite side of the vagina. It was of the thick- 
ness of a penny cord, of a fibrous texture, whitish colour, and 
about three inches long. 
Observations . — I think there can be no doubt but that this 
cow must have been for “picking” her calf when it was five or 
six months old, and that she was not enabled to do so from this 
band or ligament stretching across the vagina at the mouth of the 
os uteri. It would actually have the power of preventing the os 
uteri from dilating, by keeping the vagina from opening, even when 
pressure was applied within the os uteri. I never met with a case 
like it before in the cow, but have seen a similar one in the sow. 
There were no abscesses in the texture of the uterus from absorp- 
tion of matter. It is evident from this case that a large quantity 
of soft matter may remain within the uterus for a length of time 
without being expelled, and it seems that, from the natural con- 
traction or closure of the os uteri, it must be very difficult for it to 
escape. A dilatation of the os uteri and great contraction of the 
uterus must take place ere it can escape. It can never naturally 
