REPORTS OF CASES 
353 
no fracture could be detected. The right fore leg was then 
separated from the body. On this side the first, second, third 
and fourth ribs were fractured into numerous pieces. Removing 
the left fore leg, fractures of the second and third ribs were 
also discovered. Then cutting off the vertebral column from the 
middle of the neck back to the fifteenth dorsal vertebra, the whole 
mass was carefully dissected and a comminutive fracture of the 
fifth dorsal was brought to view. The body of that bone was 
smashed in pieces, and some of the bone, crushed in the vertebral 
canal, was pressing so much over the spinal marrow as to almost 
cut it right across. The annular part was also fractured, and the 
long superior spinous process of the bone was separated and 
loose close to its base. The other organs were all found healthy. 
RETENTION OF A DEAD F(ETUS IN A HEIFER. 
By M. R. Trumbower, Y.S. 
History.— The heifer was running with the herd last Novem¬ 
ber, being about six months in calf, and was observed to show 
signs of heat, other cattle riding her. The owner separated her 
from the herd and kept her alone until the following April. In 
the meantime her abdomen had gradually diminished in size, 
without indicating any signs of parturition, the animal apparently 
enjoying good health. In April she was again turned out with 
the herd. Two weeks thereafter she was seen to strain forcibly 
and to be uneasy, getting up and down, thick pus meanwhile flow¬ 
ing from her vagina. She was again separated from the herd, 
but still continued the straining, gradually losing flesh. No of¬ 
fensive smell from the discharge was at any time perceptible nor 
any apparent pain except at the time of straining, which would 
only occur immediately after rising to her feet from lying down. 
On May 29th I was called to see her. She had for the past 
two weeks failed in appetite, and on that day the desire to eat or 
drink was altogether absent; persisted in lying down; reduced 
to a mere skeleton, almost incapable of getting up without as-- 
