298 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



Treatment. — Absolute rest and a horizontal position are the 

 main factors. When a luxation is surmised the animal must 

 not be forced to rise, but left in the recumbent position. She 

 should rest upon a horizontal bedding, upon the sternum, 

 flexed knees and hocks. To prevent the animal from lying 

 flat on its side, it should be banked up by straw. As regards 

 medication, the same holds good as remarked when discussing 

 sprains and partial rupture of the ligamentous apparatus of 

 this joint. 



Luxation with partial rupture of the ligaments, as well as 

 complete luxation of this joint, are often the cause that the 

 animal remains down after parturition. 



Violent traction is not necessarily always the cause of it. 

 Luxation may also follow aggravated contraction of the abdom- 

 inal parietes, disturbing on the one hand the harmony betwepii 

 the rectus abdominis and psoas parvus muscles, and on the 

 other the extensor muscles of the back. 



LUXATION OF THE COXO-FEMORAL ARTICULATION. 



This luxation sometimes follows dystokia indirectly. It 

 may be caused when the hind leg lies under the body and the 

 animal falling down while trying to rise ; further, when she 

 falls down while the hind leg slips outward at the same time, 

 thus forcibly abducting the whole limb. 



Stockfleth saw a backward and inward luxation in a row 

 which had been raised with ropes fastened to the hocks, hang- 

 ing mainly by one leg. Should an animal remain down after 

 parturition, this luxation must be remembered. 



FRACTURES. 



Pelvic fractures may follow dystokia when violent traction 

 is practiced, the cow pulled from the bedding and lying lower 

 with the hind quarters, when she falls down after having been 

 raised with a great deal of trouble by pulling excessively on 

 the tail to accomplish this object. The most common frac- 

 tures involve one wing of the sacrum, and shaft of the ilium, 



