283 
PROTRUSION OF THE VAGINA AND RECTUM IN A 
COW. 
By J. HORSBURGH, V.S., Dalkeith. 
Three weeks ago I was sent for by Mr. M. Alexander, farmer, 
Pardivine, to attend a cow, said to be very ill. Before this time 
Mr. Alexander had frequently called on me, as she had often been 
threatened with inversion of the vagina, which had taken place 
the year before while in calf. I had been ordering soft food, and 
that the bowels be kept soluble by mild aperient medicine. 
When I saw her, the vagina protruded about twelve inches, 
measuring fifteen inches in circumference. The rectum protruded 
to the extent of eight inches, being twelve inches in circumference. 
The straining was most violent and incessant; the fasces were ex¬ 
pelled to the distance of several yards; the pulse was much acce¬ 
lerated; the nose protruded; the eyes were sunk; the back was 
arched, and the coat staring. 
There was no time to lose, seeing the animal had been in this 
state for twelve hours, during which period they had been using 
means to return the inverted vagina and rectum. I proposed to 
the owner, to extract the calf (which was supposed to be in the 
eighth month) as the only means of saving the cow, conceiving 
that there was something in the position of it, or its death, or mal¬ 
formation, that was causing such extensive derangement of the 
parts. This was at once acceded to, he saying, I might do what¬ 
ever I pleased, for fear she should soon be lost. 
I gave her gum. opii 3iij, dissolved in boiling water; had a 
broad circingle buckled firmly round her middle, to prevent as 
much as possible her violent straining ; fomented the protruding 
parts with hot water, afterwards with vinegar and water; and then 
returned them, though with considerable difficulty. I then pro¬ 
ceeded to dilate the os uteri. This I effected without the use of 
the knife; first, by pressing my finger through it; then by enlarg¬ 
ing it by means of the hand rubbed with soap, gradually intro¬ 
ducing both hands until I had fully dilated it, and reached the calf, 
which was alive, but lying with its head under the shoulder, and 
almost on its back. The head being in a position downwards to¬ 
wards the udder, I had some difficulty in bringing it to the proper 
position. I fixed cords to each of the fore feet; I first amputated 
one, and then the other, by the shoulders, thereby lessening the 
size considerably. Next, I fixed a cord on the under jaw, by which 
the head was brought into a position where I got another on the 
