566 EMBRYOTOMY. 



endeavour to liberate the foal, which must be done by 

 steady, but not brutal, pulling at the time of each throe ; 

 unless by protracted labour or excess of debility they have 

 altogether ceased ; when strive to revive them by the ad- 

 ministration of stimulants, especially the infusion of the 

 ergot of rye, in two drachm doses every twenty minutes. 

 Should this not succeed in one hour, proceed to extract 

 without : to delay it, would be to lose both mother and 

 offspring. The blunt hook is sometimes used on those 

 occasions, when the hand cannot be introduced ; it is a 

 powerful aid with those that can direct it. When the obstruc- 

 tion arises from an unnatural presentation of parts, that is, 

 of other parts than the head and fore feet, as of the loins, 

 the croup, and one single extremity, the other being dou- 

 bled backward ; it is evident here our endeavours must be 

 directed to change the position to the natural one, if prac- 

 ticable ; if not, to bring the hinder extremities forwards, 

 and endeavour to make the extraction by this method. 

 Lastly, if all these means fail, we must proceed to lessen 

 the foetal mass by embryotomy. 



EMBRYOTOMY. 



When, from weakness, a very narrow pelvic opening 

 on the part of the mother, or monstrosity on the part of the 

 foal, no efforts can bring the fcetal mass away entire, it 

 must be dismembered. A knife made for the purpose, 

 having the blade concealed, with the haft lying within the 

 hollow of the hand, is to be taken up into the vagina. We 

 are told that, occasionally, hydrocephalus in the colt pre- 

 vents the head from passing. Such a case will detect itself 

 by the volume that will be felt on examination, and which 

 will be easily lessened by plunging the point of the knife in 

 the forehead, and evacuating the contents by pressing the 

 skull in ; when, laying hold of the muzzle, the head may be 

 brought through the pelvic opening. But it is usually the 

 natural size of the head which forms the obstruction ; in 

 which case the head itself must be removed. When the 

 head has been dissected off and brought away, it will be 

 necessary probably to contract the volume of the chest ; 

 which will not be difficult, by cutting the cartilaginous por- 

 tions of the ribs ; detaching the thoracic viscera, and then 



