DYSTOKIA FROM TRANSVERSE PRESENTATIONS. 493 



pulling at the hook. Either through this traction, or perhaps owing to the pain caused 

 by the hook, the foetus made a sudden movement which, seconded by the hand of the 

 operator, produced a somewhat considerable displacement. . . . The crotchet was 

 again fixed towards the neck, but only through the skin. Slight traction was made, 

 while the hand, resting on the upper and anterior part of the shoulder, pushed it sufifi- 

 ciently to allow the top of the head to be reached, then the lower jaw ; so that the foal 

 was brought into the vertebro-pubic position, anterior presentation, and delivery was 

 effected. ' 



The foal was born alive — an unusual circumstance in such a protracted labor, and the 

 wounds made by the crotchet had healed in eight days. 



2. Saint-Cyr [Op. ciL, p. 501) reports that, in 1852, a female Ass, aged six years, was 

 brought to the Lyons Veterinary School. It was twelve days over its time of foaling, 

 and eight days before its admission it had shown the first symptoms of parturition, but 

 nothing appeared ; the labor-pains had nearly ceased, but every day the creature was 

 becoming more enfeebled. It was in a very unfavorable condition when examined ; 

 from the vulva escaped an extremely foetid brownish fluid. A uterine exploration 

 established the fact that there was a dead and putrefying foetus ; it was lying on the right 

 side, the body very much curved ; the limbs were entangled and could be touched 

 towards the left flank; the head was placed on the left side of the chest, where it could 

 also be felt ; the back lay in front of the inlet, into which no part of the foetus was 

 engaged. The uterine contractions were feeble. 



The case being diagnosed as a back presentation, right cephalo-ilial position, version 

 was decided upon. Placing the open hand upon the withers, the body of the foetus was 

 energetically pushed forward, downward, and to the right. After several fruitless 

 efforts, the foetal mass began to move on the lower surface of the uterus in the direction 

 indicated, and in this way changed the position, as well as the presentation : the croup 

 being brought towards the inlet, while the withers were farther removed from it ; the 

 body had begun a rotation movement, for the belly, which had been forward, now looked 

 obliquelv upward; while the hind-limbs, which were more accessible to the hand, were 

 nearthe'sacro-vertebral angle. The left hind-pastern was corded and brought into the 

 vagina, then the right, which was situated deeper. The body of the foal was now 

 pushed to the right, while assistants, pulling at the cords as they were ordered, drew it 

 into the axis of the pelvis by drawing a little towards the right. Under the influence of 

 these combined efforts, the limbs were extended in the pelvic canal, the foetus turned 

 round— the withers advancing towards the fundus of the uterus, the croup entering the 

 inlet ; while at the same time the whole body, rotating on its axis, assumed the lumbo- 

 pubic position. The foetus was, consequently, in this posilion, posterior presentation ; 

 there was nothing to hinder its extraction, and this was accomplished by a few 

 well-managed pulls. The entire operation did not occupy more than a quarter of an 

 hour. Unfortunately, however, the Ass was in a sinking condition when brought to the 

 school ; the foetus and its envelopes were decomposed, and the genital canal was 

 violently inflamed. No wonder, then, that three and a half days after delivery, and 

 notwithstanding the greatest care, the poor creature died from the combined effects of 

 metro-peritonitis and septikaemia. 



3. Thierry {Reciieil de Med. Vetcrinaire, 1874, p. 762) attended a Cow seveViteen days 

 beyond its period of calving, and which had been in labor for some time, but nothing 

 had appeared ; an empiric had been called in, but he could find nothing save the back. 

 The Cow was lying, back arched, and making violent and almost continuous efforts. 

 On exploration the back of a large-sized foetus was found ; the creature seemed to be 

 lying on the right side, its bodv greatly curved, the head and fore-legs situated in the 

 right flank, and the tail and hind-legs in the left flank. Pushing the hand deeper, the 

 posterior ribs and left flank of the foetus were felt ; to the right the shoulder could not 

 be reached ; but to the left, the left stifle was discovered. The calf had evidently been 

 dead for some days, as the skin came away in shreds, as well as the envelopes. 



By the right hand a corded crotchet was fixed in the lower part of the left flank, close 

 to the stifle ; by the left hand another very long solid crotchet was fixed in the costal 

 region, as near as possible to the shoulder, and twisted round several times. With the 

 latter an assistant was to push the foetus forwards, while another assistant pulled 

 towards him with the corded crotchet, with the view of bringing the foetus into the 

 posterior presentation. At the same time that the assistants executed this task, Thierry 

 pushed his left arm as far as possible towards the felt flank of the Cow, and after great 

 exertion got hold of the left hock. Gradually the excessively violent contractions of the 

 uterus enabled him to secure the hind-foot and bring it into the passage, but the right 

 foot could not be touched. A cord was attached to the hind-pastern, and, withdrawmg 

 the crotchets, several people pulled at it and brought the limb beyond the vulva ; the 

 tail being now seized, powerful traction was combined with the expulsive efforts of the 

 mother. 



