332 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



limb from the fetlock up to the breastbone. Next dissect the skin 

 from the limb, from the fetlock up to the breastbone on the inner 

 side, and as far up on the shoulder blade as possible on the outer 

 side. Finally, cut through the muscles attaching the limb to the 

 breastbone, and employ strong traction on the limb, so as to drag 

 out the whole limb, shoulder blade included. The muscles around 

 the upper part of the shoulder blade are easily torn through and 

 need not be cut, even if that were possible. In no case should the 

 fore limb be removed unless the shoulder blade is taken with it, as 

 that furnishes the greatest obstruction to delivery, above all when 

 it is no longer advanced by the extension of the fore limb, but is 

 pressed back so as to increase the already thickest posterior portion 

 of the chest. The preservation of the skin from the whole limb is 

 advantageous in various ways; it is easier to cut it circularly at the 

 fetlock than at the shoulder; it covers the hand and knife in mak- 

 ing the needful incisions, thus acting as a protection to the womb; 

 and it affords a means of traction on the body after the limb has 

 been removed. In dissecting the skin from the limb the knife is 

 not needful at all points; much of it may be stripped off with the 

 fingers or knuckles, or by a blunt iron spud pushed up inside the 

 hide, which is meanwhile held tense to render the spud effective. 



In case the limb is bent forward at the hock, a rope is passed 

 round that and pulled so as to bring the point of the hock between 

 the lips of the vulva. The hamstring and the lateral ligaments of 

 the hock are now cut through, and the limbs extended by a rope 

 tied round the lower end of the long bone above. In case it is still 

 needful to remove the upper part of the limb, the further procedure 

 is the same as described in the last paragraph. 



Removal of the Abdominal Viscera. In case the belly is un- 

 duly large, from decomposition, tumors, or otherwise, it may be 

 needful to lay it open with the knife and cut or tear out the con- 

 tents. 



Removal of the Thoracic Viscera. To diminish the bulk of 

 the chest it has been found advisable to cut out the breastbone, re- 

 move the heart and lungs, and allow the ribs to collapse with the 

 lower free ends overlapping each other. 



Dissection of the Trunk. In case it becomes necessary to re- 

 move other portions of the trunk, the general rule should be fol- 

 lowed of preserving the skin so that all manipulations can be made 

 inside this as a protector, that it may remain available as a means 

 of exercising traction on the remaining part of the body, and as a 

 covering to protect the vaginal walls against injuries from bones 

 while such part is passing. 



DIFFICULT PARTURITION FROM NARROW PELVIS. 



A disproportion between the fetus got by a large stallion and 

 the pelvis of a small dam is a serious obstacle to parturition, some- 

 times seen in the mare. This is not the rule, however, as the foal 

 up to birth usually accommodates itself to the size of the dam, as 

 illustrated in the successful crossing of Percheron stallions on mus- 

 tang mares. 



