UNUSUAL AND DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 
381 
Expulsion of the foetus through the abdominal muscles. 
A sheep, four years old, that had in the preceding year easily 
lambed, had again arrived at the time of parturition. During 
several days she had made numerous efforts to expel the fcetus, 
but nothing presenting itself, the proprietor determined to obtain 
the aid of an old shepherd, celebrated for his supposed adroitness 
in these affairs. He introduced his finger, and found that the 
absence of all dilatation of the neck of the womb forbad the hope 
of any speedy delivery, notwithstanding the efforts and sufferings 
of the animal. 
Two more days passed, and no advance towards parturition 
was made. During the third and fourth day the labour pains 
seemed to diminish, and, at length, altogether ceased. The ani- 
mal by degrees regained her appetite, and there was not the 
slightest indication of continued suffering. 
A month now passed away, when her rumination began to 
diminish. She was out of spirits, was always found lying down 
and separated from the rest of the flock. Her illness rapidly 
demanded the succour of art. 
On the 15th of November, 1834, she was in the following 
state: — out of spirits — weak — frequently grinding her teeth — 
the eye sunk in the orbit— the respiration accelerated — the pulse 
small, and scarcely to be felt : there was an cedematous enlarge- 
ment commencing at the umbilical region, and spreading over 
the surface of the belly ; the skin of the belly was cold, black in 
its centre, and seemingly struck with death. Some light scarifi- 
cations were practised, and a bloody serosity of an infectious 
odour escaped. 
Diagnosis . — The fcetus, dead a long time ago, is putrefying — 
the putrid matter is absorbed — this gangrenous tumour is the 
consequence of it, and she will be destroyed by the universal in- 
fection. The integument of the abdomen is becoming absorbed 
or involved in this process, and particles of wool can be traced 
through the attenuated skin. It is either an extra-uterine ges- 
tation, or a fcetus has escaped from the uterus. 
We caught her and laid her on her side, and, enlarging the 
wound that was beginning to form, we detected a fcetus, whose 
back rested on an opening effected in the umbilical region. 
The incision, however, was not sufficiently large, and we 
lengthened it in order to assure ourselves of the true situation of 
the fcetus, which, in a state of complete putrefaction, presented 
the head, and the two anterior extremities, close to the natural 
uterine orifice, as if it would have escaped on its back through that 
passage. We easily disengaged the putrid mass, and removed 
it. 
