300 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
The mystery was only deepened a few weeks later when I, 
in company with our Secretary (Mr. Pease), then a student 
with me, was called to attend a large, well-formed, high grade 
French draft mare, property of a Mr. Van Horn of Normal, 
Ill. She was in excellent condition, had bred successfully 
before and the usual period of gestation had passed without 
incident. The foetal membranes protruded, but no well marked 
labor pains were recognizable, Exploration revealed an ex¬ 
ceedingly long, narrow vagina which, at its anterior extremity 
barely within reach, opened abruptly downwards and back¬ 
wards, the usual conformation of the os being wanting. On 
passing the hand into the uterus, while the mare was standing, 
nothing could be felt posteriorly nor to right or left, while 
anteriorly could be felt only the perpendicular wall of the 
uterus which should ordinarily have formed the superior wall. 
Posteriorly to this opening, and beneath the floor of the vagina 
the foetus could be plainly felt, and by passing the hand through 
the uterine opening, drawing the posterior margin of the 
opening firmly backwards and reaching as far downwards and 
backwards as possible, a portion of the foetus could be barely 
touched, but not grasped. 
After casting the mare and placing her upon her back, one 
hock was corded, and with great difficulty brought into the 
passage. Next a foreleg was secured and amputated, and 
then after great labor and much valuable assistance from Mr. 
Pease, the other hind leg was secured, and with strong trac¬ 
tion the foetus was brought away after some eight hours ex¬ 
haustive labor. 
The mare lived about twenty-four hours and succumbed, 
and the owner being dissatisfied, no opportunity for examina¬ 
tion was offered. 
My third case was that of a grade draft mare, large, well 
formed, in good condition, had bred before without accident, 
and had completed the usual term of gestation. The owner 
resided in Minier, Ill. and 1 was called in to assist Mr. H. L. 
Ogden, a local practitioner and fairly successful obstetrist, 
but who was unable to deliver the mare. 
The vagina was found abnormally elongated and con- 
