PARTIAL EMBRYOTOMY 277 



deep as possible. Finally, the skin of the fetlock is circum- 

 cised, pushed up, and the loop passed beyond the hock. An 

 assistant can now extract the leg from the skin with some 

 force. In emphysematous calves the muscles need not be 

 cut through. The leg may be extracted as soon as it is 

 skinned (fig. 64). 



THE SUBCUTANEOUS REMOVAL OF A FORE LEG RETAINED UNDER 

 THE ABDOMEN. 



This operation may be indicated when both fore legs are 

 pushed under the body, with the head in the vulva, and when 

 repulsion of the calf is impossible. 



Modus operandi. — The head is secured with a loop around 

 the lower jaw, or with a hook in the eyes, and extracted if 

 possible beyond the vulva as far as the ears. The force of one 

 man is sufficient for it. The head is skinned outside the 

 vulva, exarticulated, removed, fastening a cord in each hole for 

 the eye to enable an assistant to keep the flaps of skin apart. 

 Next the skin of the neck is separated as far as the first ribs, 

 by the hand or small spatula. 



The union between the last cervical and first dorsal verte- 

 brae is severed with the vertebral knife. A loop is placed 

 around the neck and handed to an assistant, who can extract 

 the neck from the skin. 



The hand is now passed underneath the skin to separate 

 it at the shoulder and to tear the muscles common to that 

 region. The sharp hook may be employed. As soon as the 

 shoulder is detached, the neck of the scapula is corded, pass- 

 ing the rope to an assistant for extraction. Finally the fore 

 leg is pulled from the skin, severing it at the coronet. 



THE SUBCUTANEOUS REMOVAL OF A HIND LEG RETAINED UNDER 

 THE ABDOMEN. 



Reposition should be attemped first when one hind leg 

 lies in the pelvic canal and the other underneath the belly. 

 Should it fail, the hind leg normally presented may be removed,. 



