REPORTS OF CASES. 
737 
REPORTS OF CASES, 
RETENTION OF A DEAD FCETUS BY A COW. 
By D. P. Frame, Colorado Springs, Col. 
The following case being of rare occurrence 1 deem it of 
sufficient interest to report for the benefit of the profession. 
On November 28, 1891, while attending some stock at the 
ranch of Messrs. Erick and White near this city, I was re¬ 
quested to examine one of their finest Holstein cows, to de¬ 
termine whether or not she was in calf; she being then two 
months past her time and showing no signs of calving. A11 
examination was made per rectum, but I was unable to decide 
positively whether there was a foetus there or not, as I could 
feel no movement, nor could I make out any definite form of a 
foetus, though there appeared to be a hard mass in the uterus. 
The cow was in perfect health and good condition, but 
had made no preparation for calving at the usual time, nor did 
she come in heat. 
On January 12, 1892, 1 was again requested to examine 
this cow, as she showed no signs of calving, but was steadily 
improving in condition ; and being valuable as a breeder, her 
owners were desirous of having her services if possible. 
On the above date I made an examination per vagina , and 
found the os cervix lying on the floor of the vagina, but very 
slightly open and as hard and unyielding as the mouth of a 
jug. I could introduce my fore finger, but could not dilate 
the cervix sufficiently to get two fingers in. Nothing could 
be felt inside the uterus. 
There appeared to be only a small quantity of a viscid 
mucus in the cervix. I placed a tampon of sponge saturated 
with ext. belladonna in the cervix, but after an hour was un¬ 
able to dilate the organ the least. 
Early on the morning of the 15th I was sent for to attend 
this cow. On arrival at the ranch the foreman informed me 
that she had been straining a little at times since my exami¬ 
nation on Tuesday. On going to her stall I found she had 
only a moment before aborted a dead foetus. 
