192 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



tion made upon this and on the hooks in the orbits while the legs are 

 pushed back, and while the operator pushes back on the poll or fore- 

 head. In still more difficult cases, in which even the orbits can not 

 be reached, a sharp hook on the end of a straight iron rod (PL XX, 

 fig. 2) may be inserted over the lower jaw as far forward as it can be 

 reached, and by dragging upon this while the body is pushed back 

 the head Avill be brought up sufficiently to allow the operator to reach 

 the orbit or nose. If even the jaw can not be reached, the hook may 

 be inserted in the neck as near to the head as possible and traction 

 employed so as to bring the head within reach. 



In all such cases the cow's head should be turned downhill, and in 

 case of special difficulty she should be turned on her back and held 

 there until the head is secured. In old-standing cases, with the womb 

 closely clasping the body of the calf, relaxation may be sought by the 

 use of chloroform or a full dose of chloral hydrate — 2 ounces; the 

 free injection of warm Avater into the womb will also be useful. 



Head turned hack on the shoulder. — With a natural, anterior pre- 

 sentation this may happen because of the imperfect dilati(m of the 

 mouth of the womb. Under the throes of the mother the forefeet 

 pass through the narrow opening into the vagina, while the nose, 

 striking against it and unable to enter, is pressed backward into the 

 womb and turns aside on the right or left shoulder. The broad 

 muzzle of the calf forms an especial obstacle to entrance and favors 

 this deviation of the head. The worst form of this deviation is the 

 old-standing one with shortening of the muscles of the neck on that 

 side, and oftentimes distortion of the face and neck bones, as noticed 

 under " Monstrosities " (p. 182). 



When the head is bent on the shoulder the feet appear in the natural 

 way, but no progress is made, and examination reveals the absence of 

 the nose from between the knees, and farther back, from above and 

 between the elboAvs, a smooth rounded mass is felt extending to the 

 right or left, which further examination will identify with the neck. 

 Following the upper border of this the hand reaches the crown of 

 the head with the ears, and still further the eyes, or even, in a small 

 calf, the nose. 



As the bulky head of the calf can not be extracted along with the 

 shoulders, it becomes necessary to push the body of the fetus back and 

 straighten out the head and neck. The cow should be laid with her 

 head downhill and with that side up toward which the head is turned. 

 If the throes are very violent, or the womb strongly contracted on the 

 calf, it may be best to seek relaxation by giving chloroform, or 2 

 ounces of laudanum, or 2 ounces of chloral hydrate. If the calf or 

 the passages are dry, sweet oil may be injected, or the whole may be 

 liberally smeared with fresh lard. In the absence of these, warm 

 water rendered slightly slippery by Castile soap may be injected into 



