GESTATION AND LACTATION 



77 



71. Mai-presentations. In order that the offspring 

 may be successfully expelled from the generative organs 

 of the mother, it is necessary that it should approach 

 the neck of the uterus'in a certain form or " presentation." 

 In all the mammalian domestic animals the normal pres- 

 entation is one in which the fore legs are extended for- 

 ward with the nose also extended forward and lying 

 between the knees. (See Fig. 11.) In case of twins, 



FIG. 12. Parturition in mare. Posterior presentation. 



the second is generally presented with the hind feet first. 

 (See Fig. 12.) Any other presentation than the two here 

 described is abnormal, and the birth of young under such 

 conditions is difficult or impossible. 



As most cases of difficult parturition are due to abnormal 

 presentations, it is important that the more common 

 mal-presentations should be mentioned. The more com- 

 mon and difficult mal-presentations are : head normal, 

 but fore legs bent back at the knee (Fig. 13) ; head normal, 

 but fore legs bent back from the shoulders and entirely 



