TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 185 
duration was the consequence,, as death took place on the 8th 
of November. 
The fluid which escaped from the parts up to the time of 
death, was from 100 to 110 litres. 
The autopsy revealed acute metro-peritonitis, with a dead 
foetus in the right cornua, which was of an extraordinary size, 
and abnormal position of the uterus. The foetus was not 
decomposed, showing that its death had been recent. The 
amnion contained from two to three litres of serum. 
It is very important to be able to diagnose the existence of 
dropsy of the amnion, on account of the gravity of its nature 
and also of its being easily confounded with a double gestation, 
indigestion, or ascites; and also of its being a cause of 
abortion. Had this been treated before the complication of 
metritis took place, it might have been cured. The hydropsy 
from certain causes must have shown itself in the first months 
of gestation, and progressed without interfering much with 
the general health of the cow until the 29th of October. The 
death of the foetus was caused first by the pressure of the 
fluid, which prevented the normal exercise of its function. 
Secondly, by the difficulty in the respiration of the mother, 
which, by disturbing the circulation, prevented the nutrition 
of the foetus; to which must be added, the undue dilatation 
of the uterus at an inopportune time. The metro-peritonitis 
supervened after, and was consecutive on the presence of the 
dead foetus ; and not unlikely the unnatural distension of the 
uterus also depended on this. 
Clinique Ttterinaire , January, 1862. 
SPECIFIC OPHTHALMIA; ITS CAUSES, TREATMENT, Ac. 
By M. Demilly. 
Some authors attribute the cause of specific ophthalmia to 
dentition, and the use of hard and dry forage and grain, 
which by the hardness and difficulty in the mastication 
thereof produce a determination of blood to the head. M. 
Demilly has no faith in this. Others have asserted that the 
more common cause is to be found in the topography of the 
country, in the constitution of the soil and its productions, 
the nature of the aliments, and in the darkness and bad 
construction of the damp and undrained stables. These, 
M. Demilly considers far more likely and rational causes; only 
that most of them seem to act on the temperament of the 
