Bicor7iual Pregnancy 723 



the foal ; it is ordinarily dead before the obstetrist is called. 

 We have outlined the technic of hysterotomy on page 663. 



The following cases illustrate the variations and difficulties to 

 be overcome, and suggest, more forcibly than anything else well 

 can, the seriousness of the anomaly. Cases i to 3 are quoted 

 from the contribution by Tapken ; cases 4 to 6 are from our 

 personal experience. 



1. An old mare, which had alread}^ foaled regularly a number of times, 

 showed symptoms of colic in the evening after the normal duration of preg- 

 nancy. Later, mild labor pains appeared and some of the fetal waters were 

 expelled. Upon examination, at 8:30 A. M., the mare was comfortable, ate 

 some, no labor pains recognizable. At times there was a discharge of fetal 

 fluids. The cervix uteri was dilated. Portions of the ruptured chorion ex- 

 tended into the vagina. The uterine walls were stretched and thrown into 

 folds sunilar to torsion of the uterus, but nearer to the body of the uterus- 

 The fetus could barely be reached with the fingertips, after the arm had been 

 introduced up to the shoulder. During the exploration there were only 

 feeble labor pains. 



An attempt to modify the position of the uterus, by rolling the mare, 

 failed. While in the recumbent position, however, strong labor pains ap- 

 peared. As a consequence of these violent pains, the tightly stretched uter- 

 ine wall was pressed into the pelvis to such an extent as to threaten rupture. 

 The neck of the bladder was also dilated to such a degree that four fingers 

 could be introduced into it. During the violent pains, the urinary bladder 

 was from time to time forced out into the vulva, where it was visible as a 

 whitish mass about the size of a man's fist. 



A second veterinarian was called in consultation. At 4 P. M. the further 

 handling of the case was undertaken by T., in company with his colleague 

 K. After a prolonged effort, the lower end of the tibia was grasped, and a 

 cord attached above the hock. 



By means of a vigorous pull by four persons, the tarsus was brought to 

 the pelvic inlet, and the tendo-Achilles divided, partly with a knife and 

 partly with shears. Both arms were inserted in the genital canal, and 

 finally the leg was drawn out so far that it could be amputated at the hock. 

 The second leg could not be grasped. Traction was applied to the tibia of 

 the amputated leg, and, with the force of six persons, the skin and muscles 

 torn asunder without any incisions having been made, and the leg tore away 

 at the hip joint and was drawn out. The other tarsus could then be grasped, 

 and was handled in the same way. Upon the application of powerful traction 

 by six persons, the fetus was extracted. It was large, but normally formed. 



In the uterus, near the neck, there existed a perforation. The mare died 

 a few hours later. 



2. An eight-year-old mare, which had repeatedly foaled in a normal 

 manner, showed, after eleven months pregnancy, weak labor pains and un- 

 rest for a period of two and one-half hours. An examination revealed one 

 fore-leg, presenting in the normal position and direction, in the pelvis. Be- 



