444 VETERINARY LECTURES 



while the head is bent back, with the nose pointing forward behind 

 the elbow. 



772. Plate XLV., Fig. 5, is a somewhat similar presentation to 

 the last, but the nose is pointed backwards towards the flank. 



773. Plate XLVL, Fig. 6.— The fore-legs in this case are pre- 

 sented as in Figs. 4 and 5, but the head is turned over on to the back of 

 the foetus. These cases are generally made more difficult by the 

 attendants seizing the fore-legs and pulling them, without examining 

 the position of the head. The feet should be got hold of with cords, 

 and the head secured either by putting a hook {Plate LIL, 6) into the 

 eye-socket (Plate XLV., 5) or the angle of the jaw, or by fastening a 

 strong cord round the under jaw ; the foetus must then be pressed 

 back into the womb, and the head manipulated into position. A 

 great deal of trouble is caused by persons tinkering with cases too 

 long before sending for veterinary aid ; for, when all the natural 

 waters have been expelled, and the uterine pains exhausted, the 

 uterus will be found to have contracted on the foetus as tight as a 

 glove on a lady's hand. When a case like this is met with, the best 

 mode of procedure is to make 8 to 10 quarts of linseed jelly, strain 

 it through a cloth, and with Read's patent enema syringe pump it 

 into the womb over the body of the foetus. The linseed jelly not 

 only distends the womb and floats the foetus, but acts as a lubricant 

 in place of the natural waters. If the head cannot be got into 

 position after this (which is often the case), the finger-knife or large 

 embryotomy knife (Plate LIL, Figs. 1 and 7) must be introduced and 

 carried as far on to the shoulder as possible, and then the skin should 

 be cut and divided down the whole length of the limb to the fetlock. 

 Previous to cutting, a cord ought to be fixed round the pastern 

 joint, which an assistant should pull steadily outward. The skin is 

 next detached from the shank-bone and secured by a small cord ; 

 then with the fingers the skin is separated from the rest of the limb, 

 up and well over the shoulder, as far as can be reached. The knife 

 is again introduced, and the muscles between the shoulders and the 

 body (pectorals) are divided. Strong traction is then applied to the 

 rope round the fetlock or above the knee, when the limb generally 



