CLASSIFICATION OF ABNORMAL PRESENTATIONS 249 



Treatment. — The calf must be cautiously repelled, the 

 hand raising the tarsus of the retained leg as much as possible. 

 In this way rupture of the vaginal floor is presented. Should 

 retropulsion succeed and the hock be removed from the pubis, 

 the last named presentation is produced. 



When retropulsion is impossible and the calf dead, the 

 hock of the retained leg is severed with the chain-saw. The 

 shin-bone and parts below it are removed by hand, and the 

 lower extremity of the tibia corded. While extracting by 

 means of the hind leg normally presented and tibia, the stump 

 of the latter is to be covered with the hand. 



In place of a chain-saw an iron wire may be used to cut 

 through the joint. 



In small calves the hock may be drawn into the vulva, 

 exarticulatiug it there with the knife, placing a thin cord 

 around the lower extremity of the tibia. 



One may also try to cut the tendo Achilles. In conse- 

 quence of it, the shin-bone can be placed against the tibia, and 

 more room is obtained. 



One hind leg in the parturient passage, the other hind leg flexed 

 completely against the abdomen. 



Diagnosis. — The normal hind leg extends far into the pel- 

 vic canal. Slight pulling draws its hock into the vulva. On 

 internal examination one feels the tail, postero-external angles 

 of the ischium and the buttock of the retained leg opposite the 

 pelvic inlet. The tarsus lies way below the pubis. 



Treatment. — Small calves can be extracted in this abnor- 

 mal position. The hind leg lying in the pelvic canal is pulled 

 at, pushing the ischium of the calf to one side at the same time. 

 In this way the greatest diameter of the hindquarters is rend- 

 ered parallel to the height or greatest diameter of the pelvic 

 inlet. 



In most cases, reposition of the retained leg becomes 

 necessary. For this purpose it is placed into the first presen- 

 tation, by pulling the hock upon the pubis. This manipulation 

 may be executed by seizing the tibia with the hand and draw- 



