PROTRACTED UTERO-GESTATION IN COWS. 
15 
made to extract the calf. A few doses of opiates were adminis- 
tered ; the pains in a short time entirely left her. Nutritious food 
was given her ; she soon got meaty, and was sold. I heard nothing 
more respecting the sequel. 
I have seen cases in which cows, after the usual period of preg- 
nancy, have shewed symptoms of approaching parturition, such as 
distention of the udder, fulness of the vulva, and depression of the 
glutei muscles, and yet no expulsion of the foetus, the symptoms 
mentioned having gradually disappeared. The animals have been 
fed after, and, when slaughtered, foetuses were found in the womb, 
full grown, in a state of decomposition, and invariably in a preter- 
natural position. I have been called to cases in which the foetus 
was not fully developed, the ordinary time of utero-gestation not 
having expired : symptoms of abortion were manifest. On exa- 
mination per vaginam, I discovered only the bones partly in the va- 
gina and partly in the womb (the flesh having putrefied and passed 
away unobserved), some loose, and some with their ligamentous 
attachments. Upon extracting them they caused excruciating pain, 
particularly the bones of the spine when passing through the vagi- 
nal passage. 
A long experience in cattle practice has proved to me that cows 
are more especially predisposed to these lengthened terms of preg- 
nancy than mares : probably some of our eminent practitioners at 
head-quarters will tell us the physiological reason. 
P.S. — To further the ends of science, I acquaint you that other 
medicinal agents will cure tetanus as well as chloroform ; not but 
what I am pleased to see its potent effects successful. 
Illustration . — A half-bred mare in August last, which had a 
colt by her side, was attacked with this formidable enemy, idio- 
pathic tetanus, the symptoms of which are too well known for me 
to state here. I bled her moderately ; then applied Barb, aloes, 
mixed with treacle and flour, to her tongue with a very thin flat 
stick, frequently. Purging took place in twelve hours, during 
which time three ounces of aloes were given. 1 then gave her re- 
peated doses of nux vomica by the same means, frequent tobacco 
injections, and used powerful applications to the spine and abdo- 
men. These means effected a cure in a week. 
Dec. 10, 1849. 
