914 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
TORSION OF THE UTERUS. 
By J. A. McCrank, D. V. S., Plattsburgh, N. Y. 
I meet a few cases of torsion year after year among cattle, 
but none to date in a mare, and I sincerely hope I never will. I 
have no reason to be proud of my success in the treatment of 
those cases, so will continue no farther along that line. 
On January 14th, 1901 ,1 was called to see a cow whose period 
of gestation had expired and whose actions puzzled her 6wner. 
I found her lying on her right side chewing her quid, but every 
few minutes she would strain. On examination I found a 
“ twist of the neck of the uterus,” and with the greatest efforts I 
could use I could not get one finger into the uterus. There was 
a half turn. I worked very hard for a time in vain. I tried 
every method I could think of and I think I have read every 
one’s treatment, but I was baffled at every turn. No doubt 
many readers of the Review who have been in similar places 
can imagine they see me in my dilemma. I prayed that the 
days of miracles might return immediately, if not sooner, let me 
out of this muddle, save the cow, and my reputation. I was 
desperate; the cow must die. A thought occurred to me ; I 
had seen cows spayed. I thought I understood the methods of 
entering the abdominal cavity, I took my knife and made an 
opening into the cavity over the neck of the uterus, passed my 
hand and arm into the cavity. With the pubis as a fulcrum 
and my arm as a lever I managed to reduce the twist completely. 
I then helped away the foetus, removed the placenta, washed 
out the uterus with tepid water and creolin, stitched the lips of 
the vulva, put a strap about the body in advance of the ndder 
to prevent straining, gave soft, easily digested food, had her 
kept warm and quiet. The cow recovered, is smart now, gives 
a good flow of milk, and to all appearances will live to have 
another calf. 
Now, I do not report this case for the purpose of lauding 
my skill, for I really think it is a case of a miraculous recovery, 
after horrid bungling; and there is an old adage which may 
very well be applied to my case, u A fool for luck.” 
Now, while you may smile at this case and the results of my 
foolhardiness, I see no reason why the operation can not be per¬ 
formed on a healthy beast at the outset if other devices have 
proved a failure. 
