Cords, Bands and Halters 579 



after its chest has emerged from the vulva and the establishment 

 of respiration has become necessary. Neither is traction by the 

 neck demanded at such stages, since this may be preferably 

 applied to the fore-legs. 



Cords are applied to the limbs and head by two distinct plans. 

 The running noose of the cord, alreadj' formed, is introduced into 

 the genital passages and slipped over the foot of the fetus up to 

 the pastern, above the fetlock, or even higher, according to con- 

 ditions. The distal end of the cord is then drawn taut by the 

 operator or an assistant, and thus made fast upon the part in a 

 manner which permits any degree of traction desired. 



A second method of applying the cord to the limb is used in 

 those cases where the foot is not available to slip the ready- formed 

 noose over it, and it must instead be passed around the limb to be 

 later made fast. For this purpose the looped end of the cord 

 may be carried in the hollow of the hand to the limb which it is 

 desired to .secure, the end carried around the limb as far as pos- 

 sible, and then grasped from the opposite side of the limb and 

 drawn out through the vulva. By passing tlie distal end of the 

 cord through the loop and drawing upon it with one hand while 

 pressing upon the loop with the other, the noose is guided back 

 to that part of the limb to which it is desirable or possible to 

 secure it, and drawn tight. 



In order to accomplish this operation, the fetal membranes must 

 be removed from the limb at the point to be secured with the 

 cord. This sometimes offers considerable difficulty. When the 

 cord is passed partly around the limb and dropped, before the 

 membranes have been well ruptured, and the hand passed around 

 to the other side to grasp the cord, the end of the cord is, by the 

 elasticity of the membranes, thrown away from the position in 

 which it was deposited, and consequently cannot be secured from 

 the other side. Even when the membranes are fairly well ruptured, 

 there is sometimes difficulty because of the cord following the 

 hand backward as it is withdrawn, and thus becoming displaced. 

 We find it a great advantage, in overcoming this difficulty, to 

 fold the looped end of the rope in a comparatively large mass, 

 which is carried in the hollow of the hand. When this folded cord 

 is delivered as far around the limb as is practicable, we find that 

 while the hand is being withdrawn the rope may partly uncoil and 

 follow it, but most of the rope, including the loop, will remain in 



