106 CAUSES. SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



make it a natural presentation. You may be able to turn it with the 

 crotch, but if you can not change it, then perform embryotomy. Cut 

 through the vertebral column the best you can, and use the chain saw ; 

 get into the thoracic cavity and get the contents of the abdomen out, 

 but it is a very difficult case. Another condition is where the whole 

 four legs, or perhaps three of them, or a fore and a hind one are pre- 

 sented. It can not be delivered in this way, and you must endeavour 

 to make it a natural or breech presentation. It you endeavour to 

 make it a breech presentation, get a rope around the hind leg ; if you 

 intend to make a natural presentation, get the rope on the fore leg. 

 Then use the crotch, and turn it. In the case of twins you may meet 

 with difficult presentations, but when they are twins they are not 

 usually so large as where there is but one. You may meet with breech 

 presentation where the hind limbs of both are presented, or the fore 

 limbs of both. I saw a case where they were coming belly to belly. 

 The remedy in such a case is to push one back into the cavity and 

 effect a delivery of the other. And you may meet with many presen- 

 tations different from the ones I have mentioned. The first thing is 

 to make an examination ; the second, to use force if necessary ; and 

 the third is, to persevere in it. Sometimes the foetus dies, and the 

 liquids in connection with it escape, and the parts become dry, and 

 delivery is assisted by injecting with tepid water. Some recommend 

 oil ; I prefer tepid water. And sometimes decomposition sets in, and 

 the foetus and the vagina of the mare swell greatly ; perhaps the mare 

 can not get up ; the pulse is almost imperceptible, and it is best to 

 destroy the animal. This seldom occurs, only after a great deal of 

 force has been used. Sometimes you will meet a case where the foetus 

 is carried for a long time over the time, and it is said that the mother, 

 in such a case, may conceive again ; but if the foetus carried is in the 

 uterus, and not in the tubes or in the abdomen, conception can not 

 take place. I saw a case of a cow that seemed to be pregnant for 

 seven or eight months About the eighth or ninth she decreased in 

 size, and about four months after the usual time of calving I examined 

 and found the uterus but slightly enlarged. I dilated it with my hand 

 without any great amount of force. But, in such cases, I believe there 

 is a certain union between the foetus and the uterus, which has to be 

 broken down. In this case I worked five or six hours, until I was tired 

 out, and thought better to desist for the time, and make another 

 attempt ; then in five or six days I returned and worked five or six 

 hours, using the hand and a knife carefully, and again left it, and 

 again returned and removed it entirely, and the cow recovered com- 

 pletely, but I do not know that she was ever again in calf. A cow 

 will stand a great amount of cutting and carving, if you do not in- 

 jure the uterus. In such cases your arm will suffer considerably 

 from the acrid properties of the fluid, not that it is of a poisonous 

 character, but eruptions may come on the arm and be painful ; and 

 sometimes we hear of a practitioner dying from the effects of it ; but 

 I do not think it is caused by any poison, but by the irritation se^. 

 up ; erysipelatous or phlegmonous inflammation is set up, although 

 it has been said that it was due to the poison of the decomposing 

 matter. A mare should be carefully used after difficult parturition ; 

 keep her nice and warm, and bathe nicely with warm water, to allay 

 the swelling. I believe some cases are lost by carelessness after 

 parturition, as by allowing the animal to lie on the cold ground, 

 which sets up inflammation of the womb. But keep warm, give an 

 opiate, sweet spirits of nitre or alcoholic stimulants, and if there is 



