380 ' A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



portion of the belly still engaged in the womb and passing 

 slowly from that into the advanced portion as soon as that 

 has cleared the narrow passage of the pelvis and passed out 

 where it can expand. 



GENERAL DROPSY OP THE FOETUS. 



In this case the tissues generally are distended with liquid 

 and the skin is found at all points tense and rounded and pit- 

 ting on pressure with the fingers. In some such cases deliv- 

 ery may be effected after the skin has been punctured at 

 narrow intervals to allow the escape of the fluid and then 

 liberally smeared with fresh lard. More commonly, how- 

 ever, it cannot ba reached at all points to be so punctured, 

 nor sufficiently reduced to be extracted whole, and resort 

 must be had to embryotomy. 



SWELLING OF THE FCETUS WITH GAS EMPHYSEMA. 



This has been described as occurring in a living foetus, 

 but I have only met with it in the dead and decomposing foal 

 after futile efforts have been made for several days to effect 

 delivery. These cases are very difficult ones, as the foal is 

 inflated to such an extent that it is impossible to advance it 

 into the passages, and the skin of the foetus and the walls of 

 the womb and vagina have become so dry that it is impracti- 

 cable to cause the one to glide on the other. The hair comes 

 off any part that may be seized, and the case is rendered the 

 more offensive and dangerous by the very feted liquids and 

 gases. The only resort is embryotomy, by which I have suc- 

 ceeded in saving a valuable mare that had carried a colt in 

 this condition for four days. 



CONTRACTIONS OF MUSCLES. 



The foal is not always developed symmetrically, but certain 

 groups of muscles are liable to remain short or to shorten 

 because of persistent spasmodic contraction, so that even the 

 bones become distorted and twisted. This is most common 

 in the neck. The bones of this part and even of the face are 

 drawn to one side and shortened, the head being held firmly 

 to the flank and the jaws being twisted to the right or left. 



