DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 657 



near to the front of the neck. The forehead is pressed against 

 the brim of the pelvis, and the tip of the forehead and part of 

 the upper surface of the neck, together with the right fore-foot, 

 are the only parts which can be readily felt by the operator. 

 The occipital bone of the skull is presented, and hence this 

 position of the foetus is called the occipital and foot presentation. 

 Unless the labour pains should be very powerful, this position 

 of the foetus does not entail great difficulties. 



In the first place, a cord should be fastened round the fore- 

 foot which is protruded. Then the hand should be passed into 

 the womb, and, if it is possible to do so, a cord should be 

 fastened round the lower jaw. If this cannot be done, a hook 

 with a cord attached to it should be fixed into the orbit of the 

 eye. The hand is then again to be introduced into the womb, 

 and, following the direction of the protruding limb, carried 

 towards the chest of the fcetus. Pressure should then be exerted 

 on the chest, so as to push the foetus backwards as far as possible 

 into the uterus. As soon as this is done, the hand is to be 

 shifted to the upper part of the neck behind the occiput, when 

 moderate pressure being applied here will straighten the head 

 and neck, so that they assume their natural position. The 

 assistant must then gently pull the head by drawing the cord 

 attached to it moderately tight, so as to prevent the head being 

 again bent downwards. Another ,cord must now be carried in, 

 and fastened securely to the other fore-leg, as is represented by 

 the dotted line shown in the figure. The legs and the head are 

 then to be pulled with moderate force, and the foetus will be 

 withdrawn. 



In this connection we may point out that it is always prefer- 

 able that a cord should be fastened round a part, as, for example, 

 round the jaw, than that hooks should be employed. The cord 

 cannot do any damage, while the hooks, if they should become 

 loose, or slip and become imbedded in the walls of the uterus, 

 may cause much laceration of the tissues, and even death might 

 result from such an untoward accident. Hence the very greatest 

 care is necessary in the employment of hooks. 



{e.) The next position of the foetus which we now proceed to 

 describe is that depicted in Fig. 91. In it the foetal calf is 

 represented lying on its back in the womb. Its legs, instead of 

 being directed downwards, are directed up towards the spinal 



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