394 
ON THE DIVISION OF THE OS UTF:ia. 
cutting’ position, I made an incision through part of the stricture, 
laterally, by drawing the bistoury outwards. This I repeated 
twice, when I found I had considerably enlarged the opening; I then 
turned the point of the instrument upwards, and divided the other 
side, and could now with ease introduce my hand. There was 
little hemorrhage. I stopped until it was subdued, and in the 
mean time gave Jss of ergot of rye in a bottle of gruel. This soon 
produced the desired effect. ' I then easily dilated the passage, 
and had very little trouble in producing a fine calf alive. I re¬ 
moved the placenta in about fifteen minutes afterwards, admi¬ 
nistered some gruel, ordered sulph. mag. Ifej to be given four hours 
after, and left her. In two days afterwards the cow got up, and 
was quite well in ten days. She produced a calf next year with¬ 
out assistance. A few days afterwards I operated on one belong¬ 
ing to the Earl of Dalhousie with the same success. 
May 20^/i, 1836.—A fine cow, belonging to Wm. Gray, Esq. 
of Dalhousie Mains, had been ill a day and a half, without any 
appearance of relief, and, being many days past her time, I was 
sent for. I found the os uteri so close and hard that I could only 
introduce my finger. I tried the effect of the ergot of rye : the 
pains were strong, but, after waiting about three hours, no differ¬ 
ence was perceptible in the uterus. I then operated upon her 
standing, which is the best way. The passage was dilated; but 
I had great difficulty in extracting a large and swollen calf, which 
had been dead for some time (the hair and hoofs coming off). 
Another pretty little lively creature then came without difficulty. 
Treatment as before. The cow did well. 
March 30^4, 1837.—A cow, belonging to Mr. Hamilton, Stob- 
hill Green, had been very ill three days. On examination I could 
not find any opening. I immediately operated, and extracted a 
fine calf alive. In this case the vagina was ruptured, and I could 
pass my hand through the opening at the entrance to the uterus. 
I was much afraid of the result, and bled her on the next day; 
I also gave sulph. mag. Ifeiss., and applied hot fomentations to the 
back. In a few days she was quite recovered. 
April Wih .—Another cow at the same place was operated upon 
in the same way: she died of puerperal fever on the fourth day. 
May 3c?, 1837.—A cow, belonging to Mr. George Pringle, of 
Kirklandhill, Galla Water, had been ill four days. I was sent for, 
and operated on her in the same way: she died of inflammation 
three days after the operation: the calf was dead before the 
operation. 
June 15?/t, 1839.—A cow, belonging to J. Brown, cow-feeder 
here, was operated on. She stood during the operation. The calf 
was extracted alive, and the cow did well. 
