371 
ON PARTURITION IN THE COW. 
By Mr. W. A. Cartwright, V.S., Whitchurch. 
RIGIDITY OF THE OS UTERI — FALSE LABOUR PAINS — 
EXTRACTION OF THE CALF, AND RUPTURE OF 
THE OS UTERI. 
On Tuesday, the 29th of March, 1842, about ten in the 
morning, I saw a three-year-old heifer that was straining violently. 
The particulars are as follow : — She was within about two days of 
calving, and on the previous night was left well : this morning, 
about five, she was found straining violently, and had her bulk 
(vagina) forced out a good deal. Two trusses were now put on, 
and 1 was sent for. 
Symptoms . — She was lying on a dunghill, and straining very 
much, and some parts of the vagina and rectum were forced out. 
I had her driven into the cow-house, and examined her. The os 
uteri was not in the least dilated, but it felt larger and harder 
than usual, and projected a good deal into the vagina. On 
putting my arm a little way up the rectum, I could distinctly 
feel the head and feet of the calf, and which were not far from their 
natural position; but when she strained, the feet and head were 
forced violently against the rectum, and I was fearful that the 
former would be forced through the rectum, as they were almost 
exposed at the anus. During those throes, large tumours were 
formed outside, both at the anus and vulva. I took about three 
quarts and a half of blood, and gave opii 3i i n solution. In 
the course of three hours afterwards the symptoms were not so 
violent or frequent; but as I was going to leave, I thought proper 
to give another drachm of opium and sodse sulphatis §xij, and 
ordered but little solid food to be given. I also particularly left 
word, that if pains came on to keep the feet down, so as to enable 
them to force more against the mouth of the os tine®. 
30 th . — About six this morning I saw her again. I found that 
an adviser of theirs had been sitting up all night, during which 
time he had, rather officiously, repeatedly examined the os uteri, 
and had tried to dilate it, and had also pulled out portions of hard 
lymph therefrom, and had likewise got the feet and head into the 
passage. I also learned that four or five persons ha.d been pulling 
very hard at the feet and jaw, with ropes attached thereto, but 
could not get the calf away ; and when I saw her, I found her in 
this state : —On examining her, I found that the calf was properly 
presented, and I advised her to be left for an hour or so, as the 
os uteri was not sufficiently dilated for the fcetus to pass through. 
