THE URINARY SYSTEM 443 



a constricted band round the vulva, or outer opening, for about 

 i^ inches, with little or no relaxation of the parts. The owner or 

 attendants usually seize hold of the two fore-feet and pull until the 

 shoulders and the head of the foetus are jammed tightly in the 

 passage, when, owing to the constricted condition of the vulva, the 

 head recedes and is pressed back against the shoulders, rendering 

 delivery more difficult ; but at last, by main strength, the foetus is 

 forcibly extracted, causing extensive laceration of the vaginal 

 passage and fatal haemorrhage. In these cases the hand ought to be 

 introduced into the passage, and the head of the foetus and its sur- 

 roundings carefully examined ; a strong cord should be passed over 

 the head, behind the ears of the calf, and brought along each side of 

 the calf's face, the ends being knotted outside. Thus a loop is 

 formed {Plate XL IV., Fig. 1), when, by traction on this cord and 

 manipulation with the other hand, the head is delivered, and by 

 carefully pulling first one leg and then the other the foetus is extracted. 



769. Plate XLIV., Fig". 2, represents a case of dropsy of the belly 

 of the calf. The presentation is natural, and though there seems to 

 be plenty of room, all the force which the owner or attendants can 

 use fails to accomplish delivery. By passing the hand over the 

 head, neck, and shoulders of the foetus, the cause of the obstruction 

 is found in the distended belly of the calf. Some practitioners press 

 a large trocar through the breast or between the ribs of the calf, 

 whichever is the easier of access. For my own part I prefer passing 

 the ordinary parturition hand-knife {Plate LII., Fig. 2) between two 

 ribs of the foetus, when it and the water come away readily. 



770. Plate XLV., Fig. 3, represents the head presented, with 

 the feet back and down. In some cases the head may be pressed 

 back and the feet got up, especially in the mare and ewe, but in the 

 majority of cases it is necessary to dissect the skin back and cut the 

 head off by the first joint of the neck {atlo-axoid articulation) — tying 

 the skin firmly round the end of the bone, and leaving the end of the 

 cord outside — then, by pressing the neck back into the womb and 

 getting up the feet, delivery is accomplished. 



771. Plate XLV., Fig. 4, shows a very common but trouble- 

 some presentation. In this we have both fore-legs protruding, 



