DISPLACEMENT OF THE PREGNANT UTERUS 167 



fore legs have entered the pelvis, traction is alternately exerted 

 upon the fore legs until they are extended, and parturition is 

 completed by a few vigorous pulls on all ropes. 



This method of extraction, as practiced by Goring, must be 

 executed carefully, and severe traction is to be avoided. Some 

 practitioners will not practice any traction until detorsion takes 

 place, in order to avoid injuries (Saake). 



Albert puts the cow into the dorsal position, pulls her up 

 by the hind legs about two and one-half feet and supports the 

 back and sacrum with bundles of straw. In consequence of the 

 elevated position of the posterior extremities the uterus gains 

 a good deal of room and the hand often advances further. By 

 exerting pressure from without upon the calf and in a direction 

 opposite to the torsion, retorsion may be effected. 



RETROVERSION FOLLOWING LAPARATOMY. 



This method can only be employed when all other methods 

 fail. A small percentage therefore remains for this operation, 

 the results of which are not too encouraging, to judge by 

 reports (St. Cyr and Violet). No wonder, as this operation 

 usually follows varied manipulations and often brutal interfer- 

 ence. In most cases the owner has already the intention to 

 slaughter the animal and finally permits the operation, on con- 

 dition to kill the animal as soon as fatal symptoms manifest 

 themselves. 



The purpose of this procedure is to return the uterus and 

 calf into a normal position from within the abdominal cavity. 

 It consists of a bloody operation (laparotomy) and in retrover- 

 sion. The field of operation is in the right flank. Although 

 the upper region of the flank, in consideration of future healing 

 of the wound, would be the most favorable site, as here a hernia 

 is less liable to occur, retroversion is exceedingly difficult at 

 that part, so that it is better to incise further down. With 

 regard to the execution of the operation I refer to page 215. 



The wound in the abdominal wall, having a length of 20 

 cm., should run obliquely downward and forward in the direc- 

 tion of the fibres of the internal oblique muscle. 



