PARTURITION. 489 



VI. Difficulties Due to the Mother. 



The cause of difficult labor is not often found in the mare, but when 

 it is the obstruction is generally of a serious character. Anion 51; the num 

 ber may be mentioned fractures of the hip bones, which, by uniiing badly, 

 have reduced the possible vaginal diameter; tumors on the bones; disease 

 of the neck of the womb ; twists of the womb ; tumors in the womb, or the 

 adjacent pai'ts ; structure of the vulva, etc. 



VII. Difficulties Due to the Foal. 



Ordinarily, the cause of difficult parturition is to be found in the foal. 

 Malpresentations are, of course, the most common. Of these veterinary 

 science has had to deal with an exceedingly large number, but principally 

 v;ith those forms in which the head is turned back or turned to one side, 

 or the feet do not present properly. The head and tail presentations, both 

 excellently illustrated by our artist, are the ordinary ones; the right or 

 left transverse positions are necessarily sources of trouble. Under the 

 head we are considering must likewise be mentioned excessive size of the 

 foetus, its death, twins, too much fluid in the water-bag, monstrosities, de- 

 formities, etc. 



VIII. Obstetric Instruments. 



For the correction of a malpresentation, definite rules must be followed, 

 and certain instruments are necessary. 



"When aid is given, always commence by securing the part that is pre- 

 senting, with a rope; then insert the hand, to determine the cause of the 



SHARP HOOK. BLUNT HOOK. 



difficulty. If due to the head or a foot being turned backward, bring it to 

 a proper position before endeavoring to remove the foal. The instruments 

 absolutely necessary are neither numerous nor costly, a thin, strong cotton 

 rope, a sharp-pointed hook, a blunt-pointed hook, and a long iron rod with 

 a cross-piece on the end, called a repeller. The last mentioned is exceed- 

 ingly valuable for pushing away one part to allow of another being 

 secured, or to aid in turning the foetus. The hooks are invaluable for 

 taking firm hold of a part and helping to extract the foal; to the loop at 

 the end a rope is attached. 



