262 



DYSTOKIA. 



Ma re — continued. 

 7. The duration of the life of the 

 fcEtus in a case of abnormal labor, 

 does not extend beyond the fourth 

 hour, on account of the young ani- 

 mal having to maintain its inde- 

 pendent existence, as if already 

 born. 



8. The neck of the foal being 

 very long, the head is usually found 

 deeply buried in the flank when- 

 ever it is turned backwards. The 

 operatQr has very great difficulty 

 in reaching the head with his hand ; 

 indeed, it is often impossible to 

 bring it into its natural position. 

 The loop slips off the neck of the 

 lower jaw, and has constantly to be 

 replaced ; it is scarcely possible to 

 fix a cord there, this portion of the 

 jaw being so short and the foetus 

 having no teeth. 



9. When once the amniotic fluid 

 has escaped, the introduction of the 

 hand is difficult, owing to the geni- 

 tal organs becoming dry \ this dry- 

 ness causes an efflux of blood to 

 the mucous membranes. The re- 

 sistance made by the foetal mem- 

 branes to manipulation, when made 

 to ascertain either the position of 

 the foetus or for correcting the po- 

 sition, together with the struggles 

 and violence of the Mare, which 

 now and then drops as if dead, are 

 all difficulties to be overcome. 



Cow — continued. 



7. Under the same circumstance 

 the calf may live four or five days 

 in' utero, as life is maintained by 

 the placental connections. These 

 differences are explained by the 

 mechanism of foetal life in the two 

 species of animals, as well as by 

 the anatomy of the uterus and foe- 

 tal membranes. 



8. The neck of the foetus being 

 shorter and thicker, the head is 

 less twisted, and the operator can 

 with greater ease bring it back into 

 its normal position. In addition, 

 there are teeth in the lower jaw, 

 the neck of which is narrow ; so 

 that the slip-knot does not leave it, 

 and straightening of the head and 

 neck becomes an easier affair. 



9. The genital organs are con- 

 tinually lubricated by a mucus fluid 

 which, while it facilitates the in- 

 troduction of the hand, renders 

 easy any necessary correction of 

 position, and favors parturient ope- 

 rations. Besides, any movement 

 made is not, in general, of much 

 consequence. 



Presentations which, in the Cow, owing to its phlegmatic tempera- 

 ment, intervals of quietude, and more gentle and tractable nature, are 

 common, and as a rule adjijstable, are yet most difficult in the Mare, and 

 if not quickly attended to, rapidly lead to a fatal termination. With re- 

 gard to difficult parturition in the other domesticated animals, the Goat 

 and Ewe come next to the Cow in the order of frequency ; though cases 

 of dystokia are not so often noted in them as in that animal. It is to be 

 remarked, however, that assistance is not so easily rendered them, owing 

 to the introduction of the hand into the uterus not being always possible. 

 In the Goat the act is sometimes very prolonged, though on account of 

 the multiple placentae the foetus may live as long as in the Cow. With 

 the Ewe the same occurrence is observed, but in this creature it is some- 

 limes possible to introduce the hand into the genital passages. It is rare 

 indeed that the obstetrist is required to attend upon the healthy Sow, 



