PARTURITION 



277 



able breech form of presentation, since it requires no readjustment of parts. 

 All that is necessary is to supplement the natural force of the throes with 

 manual assistance from without. 



It is otherwise where the hocks are flexed and presented with the 

 breech, and the legs extend forward under the belly (fig. 552). In this 

 presentation there is danger of the parts being wedged in the pelvis, and 

 so fixed as to render a proper adjustment difficult if not impossible. 

 Before delivery can be effected in this case the direction of the hind-limbs 

 must be changed and they must be brought into the passage. To effect this 



Fig. 552. — Breech and Hocks presented 



it is necessary that room be provided by forcing the buttocks in a forward 

 direction so as to clear a space for bringing up the hind-limbs. In per- 

 forming this task, advantage will be obtained if the hind extremities of the 

 mare be raised by underi^acking with litter or some other suitable means. 

 A forward and downward inclination will thus be given to the foetus, and 

 the resistance to pressure from behind thereby reduced. When this has 

 been done, an attempt should be made to force the body of the foal forward, 

 either by means of the hand or a crutch (fig. 558) applied to the buttocks 

 immediately below the tail. In this connection it is necessary to point 

 out that the force emjjloyed should not be sudden and spasmodic, but 

 steady, continuous, and progressive. The intervals between the throes 

 are periods when the foetus will yield most to pressure, and the advantage 

 gained at these times should not be lost, if possible, when straining returns. 



