MALPRESENTATIONS. 523 



Occasionally a case is met with in which the hind feet 

 are presented. Such a case, as a rule, is easily disposed of, 

 rarely giving rise to much difficulty. A rope may be 

 attached to each hind fetlock, and moderate traction exerted 

 simultaneously with each uterine, contraction. It is 

 frequently a matter of great difficulty to distinguish 

 between fore legs and hind legs while the foetus is in the 

 uterus, but, as it is a point of the utmost importance that 

 the practitioner should know, he should never rest until he 

 becomes thoroughly satisfied as to which are presented, and 

 until this information is gained, not the slightest effort 

 should be made to effect deliver3\ 



Breech presentation, or presentation of the hind quarters, 

 is one in which deliver}^ is very frequently rendered im- 

 possible, or can be effected only with the greatest difficulty. 

 In the case of a large, strong animal in which ineffectual 

 uterine contractions have been observed for a consider- 

 able length of time, the practitioner may rest assured 

 that he will have plenty of hard work before effecting 

 delivery of the young animal, the tail of which may be the 

 only part in sight. The fcetus should be pushed forward, and 

 an endeavour made to turn it ; this object can, however, 

 very rarely be accomplished, but may be tried until it is seen 

 that all efforts in that direction are useless, in which case a 

 rope should be placed around the stifle or hock joints — 

 preferably the latter — after which the practitioner should 

 insert his hand, push the foetus forward, manipulate it 

 in various ways as judgment directs, and endeavour to get 

 the hind feet presented, with the legs straightened out in 

 the passage. This done, delivery usually takes place with 

 comparative ease. Sometimes the hocks are found to be 

 tightly wedged in the passage. If the foal is alive — which 

 is frequently a matter of some difficulty to ascertain — the 

 practitioner should proceed in the same manner as directed 



