266 Anatomy and Physiology of the 



a hook attached to the end of a cord within the orbit, draw firmly 

 at this with the left hand, so as to fix the head against the brim of 

 the pelvis below, and the sacrum above. Introduce with the 

 right hand an instrument called a perforator, thrust its point 

 through the bones of the head, and split them asunder by com- 

 pressing the handles of the instrument ; an exit will thus be given 

 to the fluid, and the bones will consequently now yield sufficiently 

 to allow the foetus to pass through the pelvic cavity. Prior 

 to attempting delivery it is, however, necessary to re-adjust the 

 legs by bringing one after the other into the vagina, when mode- 

 rate traction alone will be needed to remove the foetus; the force 

 being applied in this, as in every other case, only during the 

 maternal efforts to unburden the uterus. 



Among the varieties of natural delivery we may name twin- 

 LABOUR, although it rarely happens that both foetuses are presented 

 with the head and fore-legs advancing; one being thus placed, 

 and the other in the reverse position. It is, however, in but ie.\f 

 instances that the veterinary accoucheur is required when par- 

 turition is delayed, simply in consequence of twins : the young 

 are generally of small size, and the one which lies in the natural 

 position is first expelled, thus bringing the parts into a fit condi- 

 tion to favour the birth of the other. And here I would remark 

 that neither the veterinary practitioner nor the farmer should 

 ever leave a case of parturition in which his services had been 

 required, without a manual exploration of the uterus to satisfy 

 himself that another foetus was not present. 



I pass on to consider some of the principal forms of preter- 

 natural PARTURITION ; and the first to which I shall allude is 

 the one depicted in fig. 6. It will here be observed that the two fore- 

 legs have passed through the mouth of the uterus into the vaginal 

 passage, while the head is turned back and lies in contact with 

 the side of the young animal. This presentation is of common 

 occurrence, and may be regarded as a mere alteration of the 

 natural position, arising from the circumstance that, when the 

 head reached the pelvis, instead of its passing onwards in a straight 

 direction, it became turned a little aside, and the repeated throes of 

 the mother acting on the hinder part of the body of the fcEtus, 

 forced it into the position here represented. The difficulty of 

 adjusting the foetus, and effecting delivery, will be proportionate to 

 the distance the head is placed backwards. In some cases it will 

 be found within our grasp, while in others we can only succeed, 

 after repeated efforts have been made to reach the ear or the 

 orbit. Under either circumstance we are first to secure the fore- 

 legs, by passing around each, directly below the fetlocks, a cord 

 having a running noose ; they are then to be returned into the 

 body of the uterus; after which pressure is to be made upon the 



