206 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



before backward, in the median line below, by knife, saw, or long 

 embryotome (PI. XX, fig. 1), and then disjoint the bones of the 

 spine (sacrum) and the hip bone (ilium) on that side with embryo- 

 tome, knife, or saw, and then drag away the entire limb, along with 

 all the hip bones on that side. This has the advantage of securing 

 more room and thereby facilitating subsequent operations. Both 

 limbs may be removed in this way, but on the removal of the second 

 the operator is without any solid point to drag upon in bringing away 

 the remainder of the fetus. 



Division across the middle of the hody. — In cases of extra size, 

 monstrosity, or distortion of one end of the body it may be requisite 

 to cut the body in two and return the half from the passages into 

 womb, e\en after one-half has been born. The presenting members 

 are dragged upon forcibly by assistants to bring as much of the 

 body as possible outside. Then cut through the skin around the 

 body at some distance from the vulva, and with hand, knife, and spud 

 detach it from the trunk as far back into the passages as can be 

 reached. Next cut across the body at the point reached, beginning 

 at the lower part (breast, belly) and proceeding up toward the spine. 

 This greatly favors the separation of the backbone when reached, and 

 further allows of its being extended so that it can be divided higher 

 up. "Wlien the backbone is reached, the Imife is passed between the 

 two bones, the prominent ridges across their ends acting as guides, 

 and by dragging and twisting the one is easily detached from the 

 other. With an anterior presentation the separation should, if possi- 

 ble, be made behind the last rib, while with a posterior presentation 

 as many of the ribs should be brought away as can be accomplished. 

 Having removed one half of the body, the remaining half is to be 

 pushed back into the womb, the feet sought and secured with nooses, 

 and the second half removed in one j)iece if possible ; and if not, then 

 after the removal of the extra limb or other cause of obstruction. 



Removal of the contents of chest or ahdomen. — If the body of the 

 calf sticks fast in the passages by reason of the mere dryness of its 

 skin and of the passages, the obstacle may be removed by injecting 

 sweet oil past the fetus into the womb through a rubber or other 

 tube, and smearing the passages freely with lard. When the obstruc- 

 tion depends on excess of size of the chest or abdomen or thickening 

 of the body from distorted spine, much advantage may be derived 

 from the removal of the contents of these great cavities of the trunk. 

 "We have already seen how the haunches may be narrowed by cutting 

 the bones apart in the median line below and causing their free edges 

 to overlap each other. The abdomen can be cut open by the em- 

 bryotomy loiife or the long embryotome in the median line, or at 

 any point, and the contents pulled out with the hand, the knife being 

 used in any case when especial resistance is encountered. If the 



