MALPRESENTATIONS. 527 



least two or three times, or until thoroughly cleansed, in 

 the carboHzed warm water as above mentioned. 



The abnormal presentations treated of are those most 

 frequently met with in the mare and cow. Of course the 

 fcetus may be presented in scores of other positions besides 

 those above described. Every abnormal presentation gives 

 rise to more or less difficulty before delivery can be effected. 

 But although he may meet with presentations he has never 

 read or even heard of, the intelligent practitioner will 

 rarely be at a loss in deciding as to the proper method of 

 procedure ; and, although he may fail to eff'ect delivery in 

 some cases, no blame should be attached to him, as it 

 should be remembered that in certain cases delivery of the 

 living fcetus in the ordinary way is an imj^ossibility. The 

 only way in which it can be removed from the womb being 

 by performance of the Caesarian operation, which is only 

 performed when it is desired to save the life of the young 

 animal regardless of that of the mother. The latter almost 

 invariably succumbing to the operation. 



Monstrosities have been described in varieties almost 

 legion. A monstrosity is a deformed foetus, and while the 

 presentation maybe all right, the character of the deformity 

 may preclude all possibility of delivery ever being accom- 

 plished in the ordinary manner. The only method of 

 removing such a foetus without endangering the life of the 

 mother is by the performance of embryotomy. 



' Hydrocephalus ' is occasionally met with in the foetus. 

 The position may be proper, but delivery cannot take 

 place on account of the extraordinary size of the head of 

 the foetus. The cranial cavity may be punctured, and the 

 fluid allowed to escape ; after which, as a rule, the parts 

 collapse, and delivery takes place. If, however, the enlarge- 

 ment persists after puncturing, the cranial bones must be 

 broken down with a knife or some other instrument. This 



