DystoJcia 



205 



but a common pocket-knife can be used, by winding 

 the lower half of the blade with a string; the point 

 of the blade can be used for cutting, and when 

 inserting the knife into 

 the womb the blade can 

 be protected by the 

 hand, so that it will not 

 injure the mother. Em- 

 bryotomy is a hard, and 

 often a difficult task to 

 perform, but in many 

 cases it is the only hope 

 of saving the dam. In 

 treating cases of diffi- 

 cult labor, the following 

 directions should be ob- 

 served : Be sure to get 

 the fetus in a good position, either with the head and 

 fore legs in the passage, or the hind legs, before attempt- 

 ing to use force in taking it away. After getting the 

 fetus straight, use gentle traction, pulling in a down- 

 ward direction. The amount of force that one person 

 can exert is usually sufficient; in some cases more may 

 be emploj'ed, but the practice of tearing the fetus away 

 is cruel and should not be allowed. Avoid injuring 

 the mother by bruising, tearing or cutting the tissues, 

 as inflammation and blood - poisoning may follow. 

 Sometimes the dam continues to strain after the young 

 animal is born; a small rope tied tightly around the 

 body, just in front of the hind legs, will usually stop 

 this. In mares, the foal is sometimes too weak to 



Fig. 41. Head of foal with "water ou 

 the brain." 



