C/ESAliKAN OPERATIONS IN COWS. 
269 
embryotomy. The cause of this I could not satisfactorily account 
for : the pelvic arch I thought unusually small; and being dissatis¬ 
fied with the results of my first case in the cow, before related, I 
thought this was a good opportunity to give the operation another 
and a fairer trial. The cow being of small value, I purchased her 
in the state she was in, and had her removed to my stables imme¬ 
diately. After she arrived I operated on her as I had done in the 
other case : she was subsequently kept on laxative diet for sixteen 
or seventeen days. In nine weeks after the operation the wounds 
had healed, and the cow was in all respects quite well, and had im¬ 
proved in condition very much: she was very thin and lean before 
the operation. 
Since this time I have operated successfully on two cows and 
one sow; three other cows on which I operated terminated fatally 
in three, six, and eight days afterwards. After death two of these 
were found to be affected with severe peritonitis, evidently the effects 
of the operation. Was the rupture in the diaphragm of the first cow 
caused by the violent efforts and struggles of the cow during her en¬ 
deavours to expel the calf, and the consequent inflammation and 
gangrene of these parts the cause of death; or had the bruised state 
of the vagina any thing to do Avith the cause of death 1 My own 
opinion is, that the rupture in the diaphragm was the sole cause, and 
that the bruised state of the vagina had little or nothing to do with 
causing the death of the cow, as I have very frequently seen these 
parts torn, bruised, and much inflamed, without any particular bad 
effects. 
There is one affection incident to cows, and mares also, under 
gestation, which I have several times met Avith in my practice, 
though not at all or very little noticed by pathologists, but Avhich 
Avill sometimes occur, and Avill be the source of much annoyance to 
the practitioner Avho is not acquainted with it. I have myself seen 
an otherAvise very eminent veterinary surgeon lose an excellent 
client from this cause only, while I, having seen and attended to 
these cases before,, being called in, confidence Avas thus established 
between us. I have met with four cases of it of late years. 
The affection I mean appears a little before the proper time of 
parturition; the animal shews every disposition to expel the 
foetus, the pains and strainings are as severe as under true parturi¬ 
tion, the only difference being no pilot or Avarning messenger (usual 
in proper cases), the discharge of Avater per vaginam; she has very 
violent and continued labour pains; the feet of the calf will be forced 
out and project, enveloped with the vagina and uterus, at every 
pain or throe, as far as the vagina Avill admit (turned inside out as 
it Avere), the neck of the uterus with the sphincter uteri projecting 
farthest out, and will be found quite closed and contracted, not even 
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