DYSTOCIA DEPENDING ON POSTERIOR PRESENTATION 483 



has been going on, the fcetiis advanced in the pelvic cavity, and the ma- 

 ternal genital organs injured or irritated by improper manoeuvres. The 

 difficulty is also greatly increased in heifers, or animals whose genital 

 canal is smaller than usual ; a large foetus also makes the malposition 

 more serious. 



The rational indication is, of course, to extend the limbs of the foetus 

 backwards, as in ordinary breech presentation, and to give these and the 

 body a direction in harmony with the axis and dimensions of the pelvic 

 inlet, so that birth may be effected by the combined efforts of the mother 

 and the obstetrist. But this indication is often most difficult to fulfil ; 

 though in some instances, and even with the Mare, it is possible when labor 

 is not too advanced, and when the foetus, still in the abdominal cavity, is 

 movable, and can be push^ sufficiently from the inlet to allow the lower 

 part of the limbs to be seized and brought into the vagina. 



Fig. 136. 

 Thigh and Croup Presentation. 



Pushing the foetus as far into the abdomen as possible, one of the limbs 

 IS seized above the hock, and the thigh and leg flexed as completely as 

 circumstances will permit, by lifting that joint tow^ards the mother's 

 sacrum. Still pushing the foetus off by means of the repeller, the hand 

 is passed down to the hoof or claws until the toe and front part of these 

 rest in the palm of the hand ; by adopting this precaution, danger of 

 injury to the uterus or vagina is averted. Then the foot is brought into 

 the passage by flexing all the joints on each other. Again pushing the 

 foetus forward, the same manoeuvre is repeated with the other limb, if 

 necessary; though forced extraction has sometimes succeeded with only 

 one leg in the passage, that which is retained finding space in the abdo- 

 men, and even faciliating the passage of the thorax, according to some 

 obstetrists. 



