DISEASES otf THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 393 



PRESENTATION OF BREAST AND ABDOMEN. 



This is the reverse of the back presentation, the foal be- 

 ing extended across in front of the pelvic opening, but with 

 the belly turned toward the passages and with all four feet 

 engaged in the passage. (Plate XI, Fig. 2) The most 

 promising course is to secure the hind feet with nooses and 

 then push the fore feet forward into the womb. As soon as 

 the fore feet are pushed forward clear of the brim of the 

 pelvis traction is made on the hind feet so as to bring the 

 thighs into the passage and prevent the re-entrance of the 

 fore limbs. If it prove difficult to push back the fore limbs 

 a noose may be passed around the fetlock of each and the 

 cord drawn through the eye of a rope carrier, by means of 

 which the members may be easily pushed back. 



EMBRYOTOMY. 



This consists in the dissection of the foetus so as to reduce 

 its bulk and allow of its exit through the pelvis. The indi- 

 cations for its adoption have been furnished in the foregoing 

 pages. The operation will vary in different cases according 

 to the necessity for the removal of one or more parts in order 

 to secure the requisite reduction in size. Thus it may be 

 needful to remove head and neck, one fore limb or both, one 

 hind limb or both, to remove different parts of the trunk, or 

 to remove superfluous (monstrous) parts. Some of the sim- 

 plest operations of emhryotomy (incision of the head in 

 hydrocephalus, incision of the belly in dropsy) have already 

 been described. It remains to notice the more difficult pro- 

 cedures which can be best undertaken by the skilled anato- 

 mist. 



Amputation of the fore limbs. This may usually be begun 

 on the fetlock of the limb projecting from the vulva. An 

 embryotomy knife is desirable. This knife consists of a 

 blade with a sharp, slightly hooked point, and one or two 

 rings in the back of the blade large enough to fit on the 

 middle finger, while the blade is protected in the palm of the 

 hand. (See Plate XIV, Pig. 4.) Another form has the 

 blade inserted in a mortise in the handle from which it is 

 pushed out by a movable button when wanted. First place a 



