374 ^ FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



460 kilogrammes, had just brought forth its second calf. The previous year it aborted ; 

 this time it went its full period. The calf was in a favorable position — anterior ver- 

 tebro-sacral — it was born alive and well, but birth was laborious because of the exces- 

 sive size of its chest : so that powerful traction had to be exercised to complete deliv- 

 ery. The calf was poor, and weighed immediately after birth 30 kilogrammes. Its 

 dimensions were as follows : — 



Metres. 

 Supero-inferior diameter of the head - - - . . 0237 

 Bi-temporal " - - - -- - -OT18 



Vertebro-sternal " of the chest 0'385 



Bi-scapulo-humeral diameter " 0-197 



With the Cow, the maximum pelvimetric elements were : — 



Metres. 

 Height - - - I -030 X 0-182 =Sacro-pubic diameter - - 0-236 

 Width of croup - - 0-456 x o-428=Bi-iliac diameter - - - 0-195 



These figures clearly show the difficulty to be overcome in parturition 

 in this instance. It will be noticed that the head itself could scarcely pass 

 through the pelvis, because its vertical diameter was about equal to that 

 of the pelvic cavity ; that the thorax had to submit to a considerable 

 reduction, as its vertebro-sternal diameter (0*385 metres) exceeded by 

 about 15 centiitietres the corresponding diameter (0-236) of the pelvis ; 

 while the two transverse diameters were about equal. If the circumfer- 

 ence of the thorax be compared with that of the pelvic canal, it will be 

 found that the large circle (the foetus) had to pass through the small circle 

 (the pelvis). But the result proved that this can be done in these con- 

 ditions, and without injury to the mother or foetus ; though, as Saint-Cyr 

 justly says, this, ccr very near it, must be the extreme limit of possible 

 physiological reduction, and that beyond this limit the life of the foetus 

 at least must be seriously compromised. 



In other instances, and especially with the foal, the passage of the 

 croup presents the greatest obstacle, and the difficulty may even be 

 serious. 



Progfiosis. 



In such cases as those we are now studying, in which birth is delayed 

 through undue development of the foetus, it generally happens that the 

 membranes have ruptured, and the liquor amnii has escaped, at an early 

 stage ; consequently, the maternal passage is dry and tenacious, and per- 

 haps swollen and irritated ; while the foetus, no longer protected in its 

 hydrostatic bed, is directly exposed to the uterine contractions, and in 

 proportion as these are energetic, so does it the more rapidly succumb. 

 The mother, in turn, becomes exhausted through unavailing efforts at 

 expulsion, and if judicious assistance is not opportunely rendered, is not 

 long before it also perishes. 



It will, therefore, be seen that a prognosis in such cases of dystokia 

 cannot always be of a favorable kind, as very often the death of the 

 foetus, if npt of the mother, has to be taken into consideration. More 

 particularly is this the case with the smaller animals — and especially the 

 Bitch, though, as has been shown, the larger females, if they do not die 

 so frequently, yet are not exempt from danger. 



Indications. 



The indications for the treatment of these cases are similar to those 

 given for constricted or contracted pelvis: (i) Extraction of the fcetus 

 entire by manipulation \ (2) Removal by embryotomy. 



