PHYSIOLOGY OF PARTURITION. 



223 



and the obstacle that its projection might offer to the passage of the foetus 

 into the pelvis is diminished ; the auxiliary muscles — abdominal and 

 diaphragmatic — can act more energetically ; the young creature, being 

 sustained by the umbilical cord when it has cleared the vulva, glides 

 gently on the half-flexed hocks of the parent, and so reaches the ground 

 without injury (Fig. 56). 



Such an attitude, however, is far from being constant with these 

 animals ; and very often, especially with the Cow, they bring forth in a 

 reclining position — maintained from the very commencement of the act, 

 and only rising when birth is completed (Fig. 57). These cases, which 

 are quite natural, though debility maybe present, offer nothing particular 

 in the position of the female ; it being merely that assumed on ordinary 

 occasions, though, of course, parturition is more difficult. 



The animal rests on the sternum, the body inclined to the right or left 

 side, the fore limbs flexed beneath the chest, and the hind ones beneath 

 the abdomen. In this attitude labor is carried on somewhat as when 

 standing. The creature reclining on the breast and partially on the quar- 

 ter, arches the back in straining, slightly raises itself on the hind feet, 

 and drops again when the pain has subsided. 



f Fig. 57. 



Mare in the Act of Parturition : Recumbent Position. 



It is rare indeed that these animals lie full length on one side of the 

 body during parturition, and when it does occur it nearly always indicates 

 a long, difficult, exhausting labor. 



Multiparous animals — as the Bitch, Cat, and Sow — always assume the 

 recumbent position, and lie reclining on one side, with the body disposed 

 in a semicircular fashion, the head towards the tail. This position 

 appears to be very favorable to birth, the sacro-vertebral angle being 

 effaced, and the young being spared the risk of falling ; in addition, each 

 fcetus as it issues from the vulva is within reach of the mother's mouth -, 

 so that it can, without disturbing itself, remove the membranes from it, 

 divide the umbilical cord, clean it with its tongue, put it in a proper posi- 

 tion, and even direct its head towards the teat, in order to get it soothed 

 while another is born. It may be remarked that, with the Sow, the 

 creature is expelled with such force from the vulva, that it often turns a 

 somersault. It may also be observed, that with the small multiparous 



