DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS, 391 



transversely or in the narrow diameter of the pelvis parturi- 

 tion is rendered difficult or impossible. In such a case the 

 pasterns and head may be noosed and the passages and en- 

 gaged portion of the foal freely lubricated with lard, the 

 limbs may be crossed over each other and the head, and a 

 movement of rotation effected in the fcetus until its face and 

 back are turned up toward the croup of the mother; then 

 parturition becomes natural. 



BACK OF THE FOAL TURNED TO THE FLOOR OF THE 

 PELVIS. 



In a roomy mare this is not an insuperable obstacle to 

 parturition, yet it may seriously impede it by reason of the 

 curvature of the body of the foal being opposite to that of 

 the passages and the head and withers being liable to arrest 

 against the border of the pelvis. Lubrication of the passage 

 with lard and traction of the limbs and head will usually suf- 

 fice with or without the turning of the mare on her back. 

 In obstinate cases two other resorts are open: (1) to turn the 

 foal, pushing back the fore parts and bringing up the hind 

 so as to make a posterior presentation, and (2) the amputa- 

 tion of the fore limbs, after which extraction will usually be 

 easy. 



HIND PRESENTATION WITH LEG BENT AT HOCK. 



In this form the quarters of the foal with the hind legs 

 bent up beneath them present, but cannot advance through 

 the pelvis by reason of their bulk. (Plate X, Fig. 3.) The 

 oiled hand introduced can recognize the outline of the but- 

 tocks, with the tail and anus in the center and the sharp 

 points of the hocks beneath. First pass a rope around each 

 limb at the hock, then with hand or repeller push the but- 

 tocks backward and upward until the feet can be brought up 

 into the passages. The great length of the shank and pas- 

 tern in the foal is a serious obstacle to this, and in all cases 

 the foot should be protected in the palm of the hand while 

 being brought up over the brim of the pelvis. Otherwise 

 the womb may be torn. When the pains are too violent and 

 constant to allow effective manipulation some respite may 

 be obtained by the use of chloroform or morphia, and by 



