HUMERO-RADIAL AMPUTATION. 187 



only come into action when the shoulder is nearly severed. 

 It is only necessary then to separate the skin from the limb 

 and divide the pectoral muscles in order to readily draw the 

 limb away by traction. Divide the skin now around the 

 pastern and have two or three assistants exert traction upon 

 the limb while the operator places his hand against the 

 sternum and pushes in the opposite direction. The impact 

 upon the maternal organs due to the traction may be re- 

 duced to almost any desired degree by applying a repelling 

 force to the sternum of the fetus so that the impact upon 

 the maternal organs equals the difference between the trac- 

 tion applied upon the cord and the repulsion applied to the 

 fetal sternum. If traction does not bring the limb away 

 promptly the operator should attempt to extend the division 

 of the muscles attaching the limb to the thorax while moder- 

 ate traction upon the limb is continued. Further diminution 

 of the size of the fetus may now be had by removal of the 

 other limb in the same way which is especially desirable in 

 the transverse presentation of all four limbs in the passages 

 or we may reduce the size of the trunk by evisceration as 

 described under 53. 



This diminution suffices to permit the remnant of the 

 fetus to be withdrawn with the head deviated to the side, 

 the total resistance being no greater than had the head and 

 neck presented normally. This diminution also makes the 

 foetal body very flaccid, rendering it easy of repulsion and 

 simplifies the correction of deviations of any parts. 



48. AMPUTATION AT HUMERO-RADIAL ARTICULATION. 



Object. Amputation at this point is rarely desirable, but 

 may at times be necessary in the mare in order to remove 

 an anterior limb when it is impossible, on account of the 

 position to reach the shoulder. 



Technic Attach a cord to the pastern and have an 



