Examination of the Patient 625 



termined as early as possible if the fetus be dead or alive, and, in 

 case it is dead, much depends upon whether or not it has under- 

 gone decomposition. 



In ruminants an emphysematous or putrid fetus may fre- 

 quently be removed with excellent results, since they are very 

 resistant to infection from this source, while it is a well known 

 clinical fact that it is difficult to save the life of a mare if her 

 fetus has become putrid. It is also exceedinglj^ difficult to save 

 the life of a mare if she has been in labor more than 24 hours, 

 although much will depend upon the position in which the fetus 

 lies, whether it has become impacted in the pelvic canal or not, 

 and the amount of interference which the mare has suffered at 

 the hands of incompetent persons. 



Ji; * ^ ;•; ;■; ;:; % 



It is highly important that the veterinarian determine precisely 

 the nature of the obstacle which is to be overcome, to which end 

 it is essential that he should be able to identify the various por- 

 tions of the fetus by the sense of touch, and to determine there- 

 by the presentation, position and deviation with which he has 

 to deal. While apparently it should be easy for the operator to 

 determine the portion of the fetus which he touches, it is not, 

 after all, a Hght task. 



The differentiation between the anterior and posterior limbs 

 sometimes offers very great difficulty. Some writers give cer- 

 tain rules by which one may differentiate between an anterior and 

 a posterior limb, but their rules are not wholly applicable. Some 

 suggest that certain joints of the limb bend in a given direction. 

 In dystokia, however, a limb may be in such a position that it can 

 not possibly be determined in which direction it would bend, be- 

 cause it is so firmly impacted that it cannot be bent or moved in 

 any direction. 



Inside the uterus, with that organ closely investing the fetus, 

 the differences, to the touch, between the anterior and posterior 

 limbs are not so marked sometimes as the obstetrist would wish. 

 If he can readily reach the fetal body, he may quite easily deter- 

 mine which leg he is dealing with. He cannot, however, tell 

 the fore and hind feet apart until he at least reaches the carpus 

 and tarsus. Even then the tarsus may be so extended that it 

 presents a very strong resemblance to the carpus, though they 

 may generally be differentiated because the os calcis, with the 

 40 



