436 



FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



be fixed to the limbs of the foetus, in order to push them out of the way, 

 have been proposed, but their utility is questionable. 

 ■ It must not be forgotten that, after all, the hand is the safest and most 

 perfect of instruments, and should always be preferred — at least at first — 

 to such appliances as we have described. Saint-Cyr truly remarks that 

 the hand feels the parts on which it is placed ; it adapts itself more ex- 

 actly to the surfaces with which it comes in contact ; it perceives the 

 resistance they offer, and warns the operator as to the amount of force 

 necessary to effect a certain object ; whereas the presence of a hard and 

 rigid instrument increases the uterine contractions ; and however well 

 adapted it may be, it may suddenly glide off rounded and slippery sur- 

 faces, and cause serious injury. 



Nevertheless, there may be, and often are, occasions when the hand 

 cannot accomplish what is necessary in the way of retropulsion, and it is 

 these in which the repeller may be most useful, and it will be found quite 

 safe when employed by a careful and experienced operator. 



We have already remarked that this operation is frequently very diffi- 

 cult and laborious, especially when the animal has l)een in labor for some 

 time. When the " waters " have escaped, the uterus is closely and spas- 

 modically applied to the body of the fcetus, a portion of which may be so 

 firmly wedged in the pelvis that to move it appears to be a hopeless task ; 

 and the genital canal is itself hot and dry. The first indication in such 

 cases is to lubricate this canal, as well as the interior of the uterus, in 

 order to overcome the intimate adhesion between that organ and the 

 foetus. Mucilaginous or oily fluids may be employed for this purpose, 

 and they should be injected unsparingly into the genital canal, the hind 

 quarters of the animal being at the same time raised as high as possible, 

 in order to facilitate the entrance of the lubricant. After a few injections, 

 the uterus in some cases becomes relaxed, and the foetus may then be 

 pushed away from the pelvis. 



This spasmodic contraction of the uterus, especially during the labor 

 pains, is a great obstacle to every kind of manipulation in the interior of 

 the organ. In order to diminish the violence of the pains, it is often 

 attempted to attract the animal's attention by pinching its body ; pressing 

 on its loins with a stick ; putting a twitch on the Mare's nose or ear ; 

 partially closing the nostrils to check inspiration ; tying a rope tightly 

 round the body ; placing a strange dog before it, etc. The inclined posi- 

 tion of the body may allay them. 



When any or all of these means fail, it may be necessary to give the 

 animal a narcotic in the form of opium or chloral hydrate, either in 

 draught or enema (we prefer the latter), and to continue the emollient 

 injections. 



Retropulsion, as we have said, should only be effected in the intervals 

 between the "pains ;" though during these the expulsive efforts should 

 be resisted, so that what has been accomplished may not be lost. The 

 propulsion should be done by jerks, which are far more effective than a 

 continuous push ; they are not productive of any inconvenience. 



Rotation. — " Rotation " of the foetus consists in turning it more or 

 less round its longitudinal axis, with the view of changing the relation 

 between the presenting parts and the maternal pelvis, or, as Saint-Cyr 

 has it, modifying tho; position without interfering with t\\Q. presentation. 



After pushing away the body of the foetus — but not its limbs, if they are 



