104 
REPORTS OF OASES. 
nothing of horses, paid little attention to her. He observed, 
however, that at about eleven o’clock in the night, the marc was 
quiet and eating. About twelve the troubles of the mare again 
began, increasing very much in severity, the unfortunate marc 
throwing herself about in various directions. The watchman, not 
knowing what to do, called up the numerous drivers of the estab¬ 
lishment for consultation. The result was as usual ; the expe¬ 
rienced “ cow leech ” of the neighborhood was sent for. No 
relief being afforded, it was decided to call the owner at about six 
o’clock in the morning. The gentleman came immediately for 
us, and, in company with our friend Mr. Gerth, we at once pro¬ 
ceeded to the scene of battle. We found the mare down, much 
exhausted, bnt occasionally rising, throwing herself from one side 
to the other of the box, and then upon the door. Her struggles 
were so violent that we found it necessary to administer chloro¬ 
form. from the vulva protruded the fore-feet of the foal. Upon 
following them up along the vagina, one came in contact with the 
body of the foal, the head not being directly felt, nor was it in a 
reverted position. Upon slowly withdrawing the hand, the curva¬ 
tures of the inferior-maxillary were distinctly felt above the wall 
of the vagina. We then proceeded to make an examination 
per rectum, and found the anterior part of the head of the foal 
protruding into that intestine. The struggles of the mare having 
been moderated by the chloroform, it was no difficult task to push 
the foal forward, by means of which it was possible to dip the 
nasal extremity into the vagina. The foal was dead. The birth 
was artificially completed in a few moments. On examination of 
the recto-vaginal ruptures post-parvum , the cavity was found to 
be the size of a man’s hand, but the edges were in a more or less 
intimate degree of opposition. The condition of the patient 
justified the most unfavorable prognosis. Thoroughly exhausted, 
with ice-cold extremities and a weak fluttering pulse, she lay upon 
the straw of her stall, even after the effects of the chloroform had 
apparently passed away. Notwithstanding the most exact and 
continued applications of anti-pyretic and antiseptic, in unison 
with appropriate stimulant treatment, she passed away in about 
twenty hours from time of delivery. Our sole reason for report- 
