318 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
remark about the teaching of obstetrics in our schools being 
deficient I can bear out, as the idea is given that the cases 
to be met with are very easy, and the difficulties which prac¬ 
titioners actually have to encounter are not explained. I 
would wish to know from Mr. Aitken whether he considers 
it best -to amputate at the knees, or to take off the limb 
wholly. 
“ Mr. Aitken —I always amputate at the knees. I would 
not have gone to a case where the head was turned backwards 
without my instruments. 
“Mr. Moir —I was called to see a cow in calf near Paisley. 
On arriving, I found she had a very bad smell. On intro¬ 
ducing my hand I found the womb nearly closed, so that I 
could only introduce two fingers. 1 felt the nasal bones, and 
by working I gradually got them out, and then the head, and 
afterwards the other parts of the foetus, and by working the 
opening was enlarged. I then washed out the womb with a 
little tepid water, and in the afternoon with a little chloride 
of lime, but the cow died about a week afterwards. 
“Mr. Aitken remarked that similar cases he always left to 
nature, and in a few months the animals recovered. 
“ Professor Gamgee —In cases such as Mr. Aitken has related, 
where the foetus dies, a very mild solution of chloride of zinc 
might be used, which would cause separation of the bones, 
and then they could be gradually removed. 
“Mr. Aitken —I would prefer muriatic acid, which I think 
would have more effect on the bones. 
“Professor Gamgee —I hope that out of this discussion we 
may have some practical result towards advancing the science 
of obstetrics An this country. I may mention that I have 
been endeavouring to collect obstetric instruments from all 
parts of Europe, and from different practical veterinarians in 
this country, which, when completed, will be the largest col¬ 
lection of obstetric instruments in the world. It is very 
essential that we should know what has been done by veteri¬ 
narians in other countries, so that we may not be combating 
with difficulties which have been already overcome. 
“A short discussion took place between Mr. Aitken and 
Professor Gamgee, as to the improvements which might be 
made in the forceps which are used in cases of difficult par¬ 
turition. After which Mr. Moir moved a vote of thanks to 
Professor Gamgee, which was acknowledged. 
“ Mr. Anderson wished to know what the subject for dis¬ 
cussion next time would be, and he thought if Mr. Gamgee 
could get the obstetric instruments ready it would be better 
not to delay with them, as it was of great importance to 
