RETENTION OF A FfETUS-SUDDEN DEATH OF THE COW. 35 
as to the distribution of this worm and its other habitats, as I 
am sure they would be highly interesting to those members 
of the profession who, like myself, have not had the advan¬ 
tage of attending a course of his invaluable lectures. 
CASE OF DEATH AND RETENTION OF A FCETUS; 
SUDDEN DEATH OF THE COW. 
By E. S. Hewens, M.R.C.V.S., Hayes, Middlesex. 
The subject of this case was a cow which, during the 
night of Saturday, Aug. 2nd, was at pasture, and thus ex¬ 
posed to one of the most fearful thunder storms ever expe¬ 
rienced in this neighbourhood. 
On Sunday, August 3rd, I was requested to attend at a 
gentleman’s house at Hillingdon to see the animal, an 
Alderney cow, five years old, reported as being unwell. 
Upon examination I found her to be about four months in 
calf. She was feverish, would not feed, the bowels were 
constipated, the milk diminished in quantity, and a slight 
discharge was flowing from the vagina; she did not, however, 
show any parturient pains. 
I gave a mild aperient and a febrifuge draught, and ordered 
her to be kept quiet. In a few days she appeared quite well 
again; the lacteal secretion returned, the discharge from 
vagina ceased, and the appetite and rumination became 
natural. 
On the 22iul August I was again requested to see the 
cow, when I found the symptoms to be analogous to those 
first observed, with the exception of there being no vaginal 
discharge; in fact, the vulva and vagina seemed to be 
in a constricted condition. I ordered similar treatment as 
before. The health of the animal greatly improved, but in a 
few days I noticed a stinking discharge from the vagina. 
Having made several attempts to introduce my hand per 
vaginam, for removal of the foetus, without success, I had 
recourse to the use frequently of antiseptic injections, as I 
was afraid of the absorption of the morbific matter into the 
system. 
A generous diet was ordered, and vegetable tonics with anti¬ 
septics given. The discharge from vagina continued foi about 
a mouth, when it ceased, and also the lacteal secretion. The 
animal was now turned out in the day, and taken up at 
night; her appetite was good, but she gradually wasted, 
and on November 30th she dropped dead. 
