440 



FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



the body by two sacks passed under the belly and attached to ropes 

 which pass over a beam above. A partition on the right side, to prevent 

 swerving, is preferred, the assistant being placed on the left side. Im- 

 mediately behind the animal is put a strong, four-legged wooden cow- 

 crib, which serves many purposes. Firstly, it prevents the Mare backing ; 

 secondly, the operator standing in it is perfectly safe from injury during 

 his manipulations, while it gives him a great advantage in the elevation it 

 aifords — especially with tall animals ; thirdly, it forms a convenient 

 stage whereon to place cords, instruments, medicinal agents, etc. 



CHAPTER I. 

 Dystokia Depending on the Anterior Presentation. 



We have, at page 227, explained that there are three principal presenta- 

 tions : anterior^ posterior, and transverse — the latter being either dorso- 

 lumbar or sterno-abdomi?tal ; and that in each of these presentations the 

 foetus might offer in different positions, many of which would be more or 

 less vicious and complicated, whether as regards the whole mass of the 

 body, or only parts thereof — as the limbs, head and neck, etc. We will 

 now consider these false presentations and positions, in the order indicated 

 at page T^dZ, which is that followed by Saint-Cyr : though it differs a 

 little from that adopted by Franck and other Continental veterinary 

 obstetrists. 



We may remark that Rainard, looking at the subject from an obstetrical 

 point of view, considered the head and limbs of the foetus as appendages 

 which, from their wrong direction, may more or less'hinder its expulsion. 

 Thus the head, one or both of the fore limbs, or even the posterior limbs 

 in the anterior position, may cause the most varied complications : one 

 or more of which may be found in the same animal, and even complica- 

 ting each other. Thus, with a vicious position of the head we may have 

 a wrong direction of the fore, and perhaps also of the hind limbs. But 

 as the double or triple complications are difficult to describe, and as the 

 practical value of the descriptions might consequently suffer, it is deemed 

 the best course to study each complication separately : the complex cases 

 arising from their combination being then easily understood, and the 

 indication for overcoming them being also simplified. 



These complications are very often found in the Mare and Cow, less 

 frequently in the Sheep and Goat, and rarely in the Bitch, Sow, or Cat. 

 We have no means of arriving at a knowledge of their relative frequency 

 in any species.* 



■* Zippelius, quoted by Franck, in 112 cases of dystokia, found them to be due to the several causes in 

 the following proportions : 



Abortions --....-------31 



Occlusion of the os uteri -----------30 



Torsion of the uterus --.- .-lo 



Lateral inclination of the head and neck of the foetus ----- 16 



Lateral inclination of the head and misdirection of the fore limbs - - 4 



Head and neck under the fore limbs - -- - - - - -3 



Head bent up on the back ---------- 2 ■ 



Torsion of the uterus with posterior presentation ------ i 



Posterior presentation with misdirection of the hind feet - - - - 2 



Limb over neck .-..-.__----i 



Lunr.bo-pubic position ----------- 3 



Posterior and transverse presentation --------i 



Rhachitism affecting the pelvis of Cow and Calf - - - - - . i 



Hydrops amnii -------- - ..--i 



Mummification of the foetus ---------- x 



\ 



