DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 183 



the fetlock of the limb to be amputated, cut the skin circularh^ entirely 

 around the fetlock, then make an incision on the inner side of the limb 

 from the fetlock up to the breastbone. Next dissect the skin from 

 the limb, from the fetlock up to the breastbone on the inner side, and 

 as far up on the shoulder blade as possible on the outer side. Finally, 

 cut through the muscles attaching the limb to the breastbone, and 

 employ strong traction on the limb, so as to di-ag out the whole limb, 

 shoulder blade included. The muscles around the upper part of the 

 shoulder blade are easily torn through and need not be cut, even if 

 that were possible. In no case should the fore limb be removed unless 

 the shoulder blade is taken with it, as that furnishes the greatest 

 obstruction to delivery, above ail wdien it is no longer advanced by 

 the extension of the fore limb, but is pressed back so as to increase 

 the already thickest posterior portion of the chest. The preservation 

 of the skin from the whole limb is advantageous in various ways; it 

 is easier to cut it circularly at the fetlock than at the shoulder; it 

 covers the hand and knife in making the needful incisions, thus acting 

 as a protection to the womb; and it affords a means of traction on the 

 body after the limb has been removed. In dissecting the skin from 

 the limb the knife is not needful at ail points; much of it may be 

 stripped off with the lingers or knuckles, or by a blunt iron spud 

 pushed up inside the hide, which is meanwhile held tense to render 

 the spud effective. 



In case the limb is bent for^vard at the hock, a rope is passed round 

 that and pulled so as to bring the point of the hock between the lips 

 of the vulva. The hamstring and the lateral ligaments of the hock 

 are now cut through, and the limbs extended by a rope tied round the 

 lower end of the long bone alxtve (tibia). In case it is still needful to 

 remove the upper part of the limb, the further procedure is the same 

 as described in the last paragraph. 



In case the limb is turned forward from the hip, and the fetus so 

 wedged into the passage that turning is impossible, the case is very 

 difficult. I have repeatedly succeeded b}^ cutting in on the hip joint 

 and disarticulating it, then dissecting the muscles back from the 

 upper end of the thigh bone. A noose was placed around the neck 

 of the bone and pulled on forciblv, while ain' unduly resisting struc- 

 tures were cut with the knife. 



Cartwright recommends to make free incisions round the hip joints 

 and tear through the muscles when the}'' can not be cut; then with 

 cords round the pelvic bones, and hooks inserted in the openings in 

 the floor of the pelvis to drag out the" pelvic bones; then put cords 

 around the heads of the thigh bones and extract them; then remove 

 the intestines; and finally, b}' means of the loose, detached skin, 

 draw out the body with the remainder of the hind limbs bent forward 

 beneath it. 



