656 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



If the case be very extreme, as is shown in the figure, it wil) 

 be quite useless to attempt to return the head and draw away 

 the foetus, as all such efforts could only be futile in such an 

 instance. 



On the contrary, the foetus must at once be sacrificed, in 

 order that the life of the mother may be saved. An incision 

 should be made through the skin from the poll to the muzzle,, 

 and another from the gullet to the end of the lower lip. 

 Dissect the skin on either side from off" the head so as to unite 

 the upper and lower cuts, and then detach the skull from the 

 trunk at the occipital jbint. Then attach a cord to the incised 

 skin, and put back the neck into the womb. Feel for, and place 

 in their proper position, the fore-legs, then bring up the neck 

 and deliver. If it should be found impossible to put back the 

 head into the uterus, the best plan will be to detach the head 

 from the neck, leaving sufficient loose skin attached to the neck 

 as will make it possible to fix a rope to it. However, it may 

 perhaps be found advisable to fix a hook firmly into one of 

 the vertebrae of the neck, or in the interval between two 

 vertebrae. 



Should the head be presented, but not actually so far as to 

 project, the first thing to be done is to secure the lower jaw 

 of the foetus, by passing a cord with a slip noose round it, and 

 then the head should be pressed back into the uterus. In the 

 next place, the fore-legs are to be carefully sought for, and, 

 when found, elevated, and separately secured by means of cords 

 as above described, and then they are to be drawn upwards 

 with firm but rightly-applied force. Then the head is to be 

 brought forward by drawing at the cord on the jaw, and, force 

 being applied to both head and legs, delivery is to be effected. 

 It is necessary to bear in mind that, by attempting to deliver 

 by means of the head alone, a great deal of damage may be 

 done, while no benefit could possibly ever result from taking 

 this course. 



(d.) The position which we are now about to describe is that 

 depicted in Fig. 90. In this illustration the right fore-foot of 

 the foal is seen to be protruded through the mouth of the uterus. 

 The left foot is directed downwards in the body of the uterus. 

 The head, too, is situated in the body of the womb, and it is 

 curved with the nose directed downwards, so as to be brought 



