COMPLETE EMBRYOTOMY 287 



Often the balance of the calf may now be extracted by 

 pulling on the skin. 



Should this fail, one half of the pelvis is to be removed. 

 For this purpose the symphysis must be split. This may be 

 done with the sliding bistoury, the finger knife or with the 

 sharp hook. 



The latter, with the probe-point down, is placed against 

 the ischiatic arch, tearing the union. The symphysis may also 

 be severed with the chisel. It is placed upon the anterior 

 pubic border, exactly in the middle, an assistant driving it 

 with light blows from a wooden mallet. The pelvis may also 

 be divided with Hinze's saw. After separation has been 

 effected one way or the other, the obstetrician draws the loop 

 of a cord along the lower side through the oval foramen and 

 then along the outside of the ilium back ; the free end of the 

 rope is put through the loop, pushing 

 it over that portion of the pelvis 

 with the thumb and index finger. 

 Now an assistant may extract that 

 half of the pelvis (fig. 68). The other 

 half of the pelvis may be removed 

 similarly. The head of the femur 

 can now be plainly felt. The 

 muscles around the upper portion of the thigh are severed 

 with the hand and a loop placed below the trochanter. An 

 assistant pulling on the rope, vigorously, can bring it into 

 the parturient passage. As soon as its superior extremity 

 passes into the pelvis the other hind leg enters also and 

 parturition is at an end. 



EMBRYOTOMY IN THE POSTERIOR PRESENTATION WITH BOTH HIND 

 LEGS IN THE PELVIC CANAL. 



"When complete extraction is impossible in this position, 

 one hind leg is removed subcutaneously,' as previously dis- 

 cussed. By pulling now on the other hind leg, extraction of 

 the calf is usually successful. 



