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REPORTS OF CASES. 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
“ Careful observation makes a skillful practitioner , but his skill dies with him. By re¬ 
cording his observations, he adds to the knowledge of his profession, and assists by his facts 
in building up the solid edifice of pathological science. ’ ’ 
PERFECT OCCLUSION OF UTERUS IN COW. 
By John Minchin, V. S., Goshen, N. Y. 
On April 6th was called to see a cow that was making very 
strong efforts at parturition all day, but no sign of calf could 
be found. Got to the place about 8 P. M. Found several men 
on hand ; did not know there were any examinations for the 
calf till I made it myself. When I reported the situation one 
of the party said : “ I told you so,” and told me he did not see 
what could be done. There was not the least sign of any place 
where I could insert one finger—everything as tight as a drum. 
The cow would lie down, stretch out and moan, strain vio¬ 
lently, etc. As this was the second case of the kind I had ever 
seen, I told the owner I thought there was very little chance to 
save the cow, even if I tried to use the scalpel, as I had never 
done so before, and left it for them to say what to do. All 
concluded it would be a very dangerous u job,” and to let the 
poor thing die, which I did. But here is the chief cause of my 
letter—I went to the “ knackers,” or, as we call it, the “bone- 
yard,” and made a post-mortem, which revealed the uterus as 
tight as a drumhead ; not the remotest sign of the os, and when 
cut through was almost one inch thick, and dilated to its full 
extent. Then, and there, I concluded if I ever met another 
similar case to try the knife, and here it is. On the 23d of the 
same month had another call, but this time could get one finger 
in the os, and, no matter how I tried, no more. The cow was 
in a great state of tenesmus, and would bawl when my hand 
entered. She would not stand. I procured my slings ; had a 
man to hold her by the nose, one on each side, when I made 
her hind parts a little elevated. Made lateral cut both ways, 
and with some traction delivered her of the trouble. As there 
was quite some haemorrhage I irrigated the parts for fifteen or 
twenty minutes with plenty of cold water ; a few spoonfuls of 
chloride of sodium thrown in. My syringe is an old English 
one, with ball at bottom, which forces the solution just where I 
want it. Now, the great surprise to me. I let the cow down 
easily, gave her a stimulant of whiskey, had her fed on soft 
mashes, etc. And at present (June 4) is doing well. 
