EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
229 
FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 
By M. R. Merit. 
The author was called to a cow, in labor for several hours. 
Exploration revealed a dead foetus, in the posterior presenta¬ 
tion, lumbo-pubic position, of very large size. 
To his great surprise, the version of the foetus is very easy, 
and the lumbo-pubic position becomes lumbo-sacral. The two 
hind legs are secured and traction made by two strong and in¬ 
telligent assistants, which brings the foetus’ hind quarters into the 
pelvis ; but these cannot be drawn any further. By manual 
exploration, the hand passes freely round the croup of the foetus, 
but its abdomen presses against the pubis of the mother. 
Supposing a case of abdominal dropsy, the walls of the ab¬ 
domen are freely incised to allow the fluid to escape. None 
comes out. The hand reintroduced to extract the intestines 
brings instead portions of a tumour, glandular in aspect, very 
large, which removes by pieces; weighs when these are gathered 
together about 16 pounds. 
The foetus then is removed, which # is found with a fract¬ 
ure of the vertebral column at the last dostal vertebra, with 
another large bloody tumour as the first, though smaller, and 
the left kidney totally absent.— Ibid. 
DYSTOKIA DUE TO DROPSY OF THE FOETAL KIDNEYS. 
By Mr. Hermenier. 
A cow in labor makes violent efforts to expell her foetus. 
The anterior legs, as well as the head, are out protruding 
through the vulva. The calf had died a few minutes after their 
first apparition. Manual examination reveals the calf in normal 
position, but with an enormous abdomen, supposed to be 
dropsical. Forced extraction fails and hysterotomy must be 
performed. The left fore leg is removed, and through an open¬ 
ing made to the chest, the heart and the lungs are removed. 
The diaphragm is torn and presents numerous calcareous con- 
