PARTURITION 275 



extended. The limb most easy of access is the first to be dealt with. If 

 the head is in the passage it must be forced back into the uterus by plant- 

 ing the flat of the hand on the front of the face. When necessary, this 

 may be effected with a crutch made to press on the front of the chest. 

 While this is being done by an assistant, the operator will pass his hand 

 along the under side of the neck until the forearm is reached. A push in 

 a backward direction should then be made, until the arm can be raised 

 and the leg brought bodily forward. The hand should now pass down to 

 the canon, seize it, and through it push the knee up towards the neck. 



Fig. 549. One Fore-limb displaced backwards 



The hand while drawing the limb forward gradually moves towards 

 the pastern, which it firmly grips, and after extending the fetlock- 

 joint, draws the foot into the passage. The limb having been secured 

 by cords, the recovery of the next one may be proceeded with, after which 

 delivery will be effected in the usual way. 



Still more difficult is that presentation where one fore-limb with the 

 head is in the passage, and the other is lying far back under the body 

 (fig. 549). Here the advantage of a long arm and a strong man to use it 

 will be clearly obvious, for, as in the last presentation, the success of the 

 operation will depend upon the displaced fore- limb being secured and 

 brought into position. The passage must first be cleared by pushing back 

 the head. The hand should then be passed along the under part of the 

 neck, should seize the fore-arm and bring it forward into the passage. 



