DYSTOKIA DEPENDING ON ANTERIOR PRESENTATION. 



447 



According to Saint-Cyr, this complication of the limbs in this position ap- 

 pears to be- rare. It does not offer any thing particular, except that the 

 undermost limb is difficult to reach and adjust by the hand of the opera- 

 tor. It is therefore recommended, after straightening and cording the 

 uppermost limb, to attempt rotation of the foetus, in order to bring it into 

 a more favorable position — the vertebro-sacral, if possible — before pro- 

 ceeding to the adjustment of the other leg, which is to be effected in the 

 manner already indicated. 



4. Fore-limbs Completely Retained. 



The complete retention of one or both fore-limbs of the foetus in the 

 uterine cavity is often met with in the domesticated animals, but perhaps 

 more frequently in the Mare than the Cow or other creature. It is always 



Fig. IT3. 

 Anterior Presentation: One Fore- 



i.iMB Completely Retained. 



a serious cause of dystokia in the Mare and Cow, and may occur in either 

 of the four anterior positions, though it is usually observed in the vertebro- 

 sacral position. It is, no doubt, produced during birth, and in the same 

 manner as knee flexion ; its more frequent occurrence with the foal than 

 the calf, is in all probability due to the former having longer limbs than 

 the latter. Under exceptionally favorable circumstances, as Franck re- 

 marks, the foal or calf may be born with the fore-limbs under the chest 

 and abdomen, and without injury to the mother or offspring. This is 

 much more likely to occur when the foetus is small, the maternal pelvis 

 roomy, and only one limb misplaced. 



But when the foetus is large and the pelvis narrow, then birth, especially 

 of the foal, is not possible. Not only this, but unless extraction is soon 

 accomplished the foetus runs great risk of dying from asphyxia : indeed, 

 the foal is nearly always delivered dead in this complication ; so that 



