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False Conception in a Heifer
332
The Veterina1y J'ournal. FALSE CONCEPTION IN A HEIFER. BY C. W. GREGORY, M.R.C.V.S., BRISTOL.
THE recent interesting papers in the Veterinary Youmal on some peculiar obstetrical cases, have brought to my mind one occurring in 18]4, of which the following are the particulars, as near as I can remember. Th e subject was a pure short-h orn heifer, bred by the owner, and sixteen months old when put to the bull. About five weeks afterward s, a thick white slimy discharge was observed to escape from th e vulva ; but no particular notice bein g t aken, it continued to discharge for three or fou r weeks, when she was attacked with acute pain and heaving, as though in la bour ; these pains rapidly increased, and beca me so intense that twice the uterus was forced partially outside the vulva. On Sept. 3rd I was urgently requ ested to go to see h er-a distance of nine miles ; and on arrival I found her standing, very excited, back arched, frequently moving around the shed, and sufferin g from very severe continuous parturient pains. Endea\'O uring to ascertain the cause, I passed my h and into the vag ina, but h ad some difficulty, in cons equence of the fold s of membra ne obstructing the passage, which I found to a rise from swelling . a nd the backward pressure of the uterus. Overcoming this, and reaching the os uteri, I di scovered that orifice almost closed; but by using gentle pressure I passed one or two fingers in , and felt what appeared to be the placental membranes distend ed with fluid and of consid erable bulk; however, I could find no trace of a fcetus. Withdrawing my hand, I passed it into the rectum, and found the uterus very distended with fluid, but yet no indication of a fcetus. Th e pains were still continuous and most acute; I ord ered a draught of Spirits of Chloroform. Being now desirous of ascertaining the contents of the uterus, I passed u catheter in and forced it through the m embrane within the (IS /lteri, wh ence fl o\\'ed through it with much force a stream of se ro-sangu in eous fluid of a most foul odour, and of which abo ut three or four gallons escaped. I then injected t epid water, with a littl e Coal-tar Extract as a det ergent, and ordered an aperient, a nd also febrile medicines.
False Conception £n a H ,;ifir.
333
5th.--Patient app ea red easy and progressi ng favourably. Sth.-On again attending by requ es t, I found the heifer in a si milar state as on my first visit : no appetite, much excitement, with very acute and continuous labour pains. On inserting my hand, I found the os uteri closed ; dil ating this, and passing my hand into the uterus, I tore open the impeding membranes as much as possible, and liberat ed about two or three gallons of a similar fluid as before, together wi th some clots of what appeared to be coagulated blood. I then attempted to retain a tube in the organ, and after several failures I succeeded in doing so by fixing a piece of canvas with gutta-percha plaster on each side of the breech, and tying a glyster tube-eighteen inches long-to them. This was of sufficient strength to resist the -:xpulsive efforts of the heifer, and enabled the attendant to inj ect tepid water with Coal-tar Extract or Carbolic Acid occasionally. I ordered Tinct. Opii and Spts. Chloroform to be administered alte rnately, also m~stard to be applied to the loins. 9th.-Heifer still sufiering from pains, which were continuous but less acute; back arched; presented a depressed and worn appearance. On again examining the uterus, I found the placental membranes in a partially decomposed state, and attached to the whole surface of the uterus, except some small portions, which had already escaped. These I carefully detached and brought away in segments, until the whole-about 2 or 3 lbs.-was withdrawn. After this the uterus was thoroughly cleansed by means of a horse catheter attached to a bladder of warm water. The tube was again fixed, and occasional injections as before ordered ; also an occasional dose of Spts. Chloroform and ammonia, or on recurrence of pain Tinct. Opii to be administered. Mustard to the loins was again applied. I 3th.-Pains had been occasional, but not severe; back still slightly arched ; regaining appetite ; she presented a more tranquil appearance; the uterine discharge was comparatively slight. From this time the heifer improved daily, the discharge having changed gradually from a sero-sanguineous to a mucopurulent character. The tube was still retained for t en or twelve days, when the di scharge became very trifling-though it did not cease altogether for several weeks after.
334
The Veteri12ary J'ounzal.
The heifer continued to do well; but as it was not deemed advisable to breed from her, she afterwards fatted as though nothing had occurred, except that at intervals she showed unusually strong procreative desires.
EMPROSTHOTONOS IN THE HORSE. BY W. E. LITT, 1\I.R.C.V.S., SHREWSBURY.
A s I have never seen or heard of any case of Emprosthotonos in the horse being recorded, I am induced to send you parti culars of such a case, which has recently occurred in my practice. Not only is there, to the best of my knowledge, no similar case recorded, but it is broadly stated, in those works which I have consulted, that that form of tetanic spasm which is confined to the inferior mu scles is unknown in the horse or ox. This being the case, I am glad to be able to place on record in the pages of your 'Jounzal, the particulars of what must be considered an undoubted and well-marked instance of this pathological condition. The subject of this attack was a black gelding, six years old, about fifteen hands high, and rather more than three parts bred. He is the property of Captain Fenwick, R.N., by whom I was called in on October the 6th last. The appearances presented by the animal at this time were those of stiffness; the back being rigid, but straight, the abdominal muscles powerfully contracted, g iving a " tucked up" appearance , a staring coat, and a peculiarly awkward gait. The action was very suggestive of Acute L aminitis, although there was an absence of pain. Indeed, it may be said there was but little constitutional disturbance. The pulse and breathing were perfectly normal; the appetite fairly good; the fceces were natural, but there appeared to be an almost continu al desire to micturate. The secretion of urine was by no means suspended, as the quantity voided was of average amount, and was remarkable only in so far that it was peculiarly light-coloured and wanting in density. My first impression was, from the frequent micturition, and the peculiarity of gait before mentioned, that the horse
The Veterina1y J'ournal. FALSE CONCEPTION IN A HEIFER. BY C. W. GREGORY, M.R.C.V.S., BRISTOL.
THE recent interesting papers in the Veterinary Youmal on some peculiar obstetrical cases, have brought to my mind one occurring in 18]4, of which the following are the particulars, as near as I can remember. Th e subject was a pure short-h orn heifer, bred by the owner, and sixteen months old when put to the bull. About five weeks afterward s, a thick white slimy discharge was observed to escape from th e vulva ; but no particular notice bein g t aken, it continued to discharge for three or fou r weeks, when she was attacked with acute pain and heaving, as though in la bour ; these pains rapidly increased, and beca me so intense that twice the uterus was forced partially outside the vulva. On Sept. 3rd I was urgently requ ested to go to see h er-a distance of nine miles ; and on arrival I found her standing, very excited, back arched, frequently moving around the shed, and sufferin g from very severe continuous parturient pains. Endea\'O uring to ascertain the cause, I passed my h and into the vag ina, but h ad some difficulty, in cons equence of the fold s of membra ne obstructing the passage, which I found to a rise from swelling . a nd the backward pressure of the uterus. Overcoming this, and reaching the os uteri, I di scovered that orifice almost closed; but by using gentle pressure I passed one or two fingers in , and felt what appeared to be the placental membranes distend ed with fluid and of consid erable bulk; however, I could find no trace of a fcetus. Withdrawing my hand, I passed it into the rectum, and found the uterus very distended with fluid, but yet no indication of a fcetus. Th e pains were still continuous and most acute; I ord ered a draught of Spirits of Chloroform. Being now desirous of ascertaining the contents of the uterus, I passed u catheter in and forced it through the m embrane within the (IS /lteri, wh ence fl o\\'ed through it with much force a stream of se ro-sangu in eous fluid of a most foul odour, and of which abo ut three or four gallons escaped. I then injected t epid water, with a littl e Coal-tar Extract as a det ergent, and ordered an aperient, a nd also febrile medicines.
False Conception £n a H ,;ifir.
333
5th.--Patient app ea red easy and progressi ng favourably. Sth.-On again attending by requ es t, I found the heifer in a si milar state as on my first visit : no appetite, much excitement, with very acute and continuous labour pains. On inserting my hand, I found the os uteri closed ; dil ating this, and passing my hand into the uterus, I tore open the impeding membranes as much as possible, and liberat ed about two or three gallons of a similar fluid as before, together wi th some clots of what appeared to be coagulated blood. I then attempted to retain a tube in the organ, and after several failures I succeeded in doing so by fixing a piece of canvas with gutta-percha plaster on each side of the breech, and tying a glyster tube-eighteen inches long-to them. This was of sufficient strength to resist the -:xpulsive efforts of the heifer, and enabled the attendant to inj ect tepid water with Coal-tar Extract or Carbolic Acid occasionally. I ordered Tinct. Opii and Spts. Chloroform to be administered alte rnately, also m~stard to be applied to the loins. 9th.-Heifer still sufiering from pains, which were continuous but less acute; back arched; presented a depressed and worn appearance. On again examining the uterus, I found the placental membranes in a partially decomposed state, and attached to the whole surface of the uterus, except some small portions, which had already escaped. These I carefully detached and brought away in segments, until the whole-about 2 or 3 lbs.-was withdrawn. After this the uterus was thoroughly cleansed by means of a horse catheter attached to a bladder of warm water. The tube was again fixed, and occasional injections as before ordered ; also an occasional dose of Spts. Chloroform and ammonia, or on recurrence of pain Tinct. Opii to be administered. Mustard to the loins was again applied. I 3th.-Pains had been occasional, but not severe; back still slightly arched ; regaining appetite ; she presented a more tranquil appearance; the uterine discharge was comparatively slight. From this time the heifer improved daily, the discharge having changed gradually from a sero-sanguineous to a mucopurulent character. The tube was still retained for t en or twelve days, when the di scharge became very trifling-though it did not cease altogether for several weeks after.
334
The Veteri12ary J'ounzal.
The heifer continued to do well; but as it was not deemed advisable to breed from her, she afterwards fatted as though nothing had occurred, except that at intervals she showed unusually strong procreative desires.
EMPROSTHOTONOS IN THE HORSE. BY W. E. LITT, 1\I.R.C.V.S., SHREWSBURY.
A s I have never seen or heard of any case of Emprosthotonos in the horse being recorded, I am induced to send you parti culars of such a case, which has recently occurred in my practice. Not only is there, to the best of my knowledge, no similar case recorded, but it is broadly stated, in those works which I have consulted, that that form of tetanic spasm which is confined to the inferior mu scles is unknown in the horse or ox. This being the case, I am glad to be able to place on record in the pages of your 'Jounzal, the particulars of what must be considered an undoubted and well-marked instance of this pathological condition. The subject of this attack was a black gelding, six years old, about fifteen hands high, and rather more than three parts bred. He is the property of Captain Fenwick, R.N., by whom I was called in on October the 6th last. The appearances presented by the animal at this time were those of stiffness; the back being rigid, but straight, the abdominal muscles powerfully contracted, g iving a " tucked up" appearance , a staring coat, and a peculiarly awkward gait. The action was very suggestive of Acute L aminitis, although there was an absence of pain. Indeed, it may be said there was but little constitutional disturbance. The pulse and breathing were perfectly normal; the appetite fairly good; the fceces were natural, but there appeared to be an almost continu al desire to micturate. The secretion of urine was by no means suspended, as the quantity voided was of average amount, and was remarkable only in so far that it was peculiarly light-coloured and wanting in density. My first impression was, from the frequent micturition, and the peculiarity of gait before mentioned, that the horse