38 BREEDING OF 



numerous punctures through the skin. This can be 

 done by a knife or any pointed instrument. Where this 

 is present, it will be found that the walls of the uterus 

 and vagina will be very dry and it is necessary to use 

 oil or grease freely before an attempt is made to de- 

 liver a fetus of this description. 



In this place it may be also mentioned that monstros- 

 ities are sometimes found. These vary in numerous 

 ways, which are exceedingly interesting to the embryo- 

 logist, but which cannot be noticed here. I can only 

 give a short description of one of the most interesting 

 as well as a very rare specimen that I met with several 

 years ago when practicing my profession in an agricul- 

 tural neighborhood. On examination I found three 

 feet coming almost together. Passing my hand along 

 the legs, I found that I had two hind feet and a fore 

 foot. Groping further I soon felt what apparently was 

 some of the intestines and internal viscera of the fetus. 

 Being all at sea as to what it meant, I followed up the 

 fore leg and tried to find the head, in which I was un- 

 successful, neither could I find the other fore foot. I 

 expectad to have a difficult labor, so attached two ropes 

 to the two hind legs and gave them to assistants. After 

 using a quantity of oil to lubricate the parts, I ordered 

 the assistants to pull gently but firmly, while I attempt- 

 ed to guide the fetus so that the hind quarters would 

 come through the outlet all right. By strong and 

 steady pulling, together with the efforts of the cow, a 

 successful delivery was accomplished in about ten 

 minutes, when the following fetal condition was seen. 

 The abdominal and thoracic cavities were open, the 

 walls of which were turned back, much like the abdo- 

 minal walls of a lamb when killed and dressed for the 



