DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 651 



If delivery be difficult owing to the foetus being too large for 

 the womb, then assistance ought to be given during the con- 

 tinuance of each alternate pain. 



Occasionally the veterinarian may be called to a simple 

 case in which the act is merely a little delayed. If so, a 

 mild stimulant may be useful, or in extreme cases a little of 

 the fluid extract of ergot of rye may be prescribed. The 

 greatest precaution is, however, necessary in regard to the 

 use of this drug. It should never be administered, unless 

 one is quite certain that there is no real impediment or 

 obstacle, and also that the os uteri is relaxed. In order to 

 determine the position of the foetus in the uterus, the hand 

 may be introduced. The primary aims to be sought in all 

 cases of difficult parturition are the strengthening of the cow 

 and the restoring of the calf to the natural position. 



Sometimes it may be the case that a calf in utero may be 

 afflicted with dropsy of the abdomen, and so, on account of its 

 greatly increased size, present a very grave obstacle to delivery 

 taking place. In this case, the life of the foetal calf must be 

 sacrificed at once, and exit should be given to the fluid contained 

 in the abdomen of the foetus by thrusting a trocar of sufficient 

 length right through the chest of the foetus, and into the 

 abdominal cavity. The stilet should be withdrawn, and then 

 the pressure brought to bear on the foetus, partly by the labour- 

 pains of the mother, will forcibly drive the fluid through the 

 sheath of the instrument, thus reducing the size of the enlarged 

 abdomen and facilitating delivery. The very greatest care is 

 requisite in performing this operation. Perhaps in certain cases 

 it may be possible to pass the trocar directly into the abdomen 

 of the foetus. 



Professor Simonds was led to the subsequent employment of 

 this instrument owing to the difficulty once experienced in the 

 case of a mare in labour, where the obstruction to the progress of 

 the delivery was due to the accumulation of a large quantity 

 of urine within the bladder of the foetus. 



The instrument is depicted in Fig. 86. 



Among other causes of lingering labour as a result of congenital 

 disease, and where the presentation is natural, we must mention 

 an accumulation of fluid within the cranial cavity (water on the 

 brain). In such cases the body of the foetus is unusually small. 



