32 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
time of the first attack of a broken-winded nature has entirely 
left him, and at the time of writing this article is fat, sleek and 
ready for market. 
In looking through my library I fail to find anything on 
spasmodic asthma in any of our latest works. 
TWO CASES OF RIGID HYMEN—ONE CAUSING DIFFICULT LA¬ 
BOR WITH FIRST CALF.* 
By A. G. Alverson, V. S., Bloomington, Ill. 
Called one cold evening during the winter, to deliver a 
heifer, I found animal a little less than two years old and well 
developed, suffering under extreme labor pains and having been 
in same condition for several hours. Dressed, or rather un¬ 
dressed for the occasion and began my examination, being for a 
time somewhat bewildered with what I found. Just between 
the lips of the vulva, and almost protruding from the orifice was 
the intact hymen, resembling mucous membrane in appearance, 
fluctuating under pressure, but a barrier to progress far up the 
vaginal canal. Nearly in the centre the tissues were drawn in 
cicatricial form, indicating that the penis of the male had pene¬ 
trated the membrane at the time of copulation and subsequently 
healed. 
It was with some difficulty, and by first using the knife, that 
the obstruction was overcome. There seemed to be more than 
the usual amount of liquor amnii, and had no farther trouble in 
delivering the calf, which was dead, and having the appearance 
of having been drowned in the contained fluid. 
Saw recently in a filly a case which might have gone on to 
the same termination if the organ and act of copulation had been 
the same as in the former animal. She was a finely bred road¬ 
ster, one year old, passed, and trotting in pasture a fold of the 
membrane would show at the lower part of the vulvar fissure ; 
when at rest nothing was noticeable. As the filly was being re¬ 
served for breeding purposes, she was brought in for examina¬ 
tion. Found here also an entire hymen and an excess of tissue 
in same which allowed it to protrude when shaken back, or it 
could be pushed in well up the os. More easily broken down 
than in the other case and showing no indication of scar tissue. 
Have seen several cases where a part of membrane was discern- 
able, but never but the two which were complete. 
* Read before the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, Feb. 15, 1899. 
