766 



Veterinary Obstetrics 



deviated as the body of the fetus is pushed more and more for- 

 ward. Finally the neck is doubled directly backward as far as 

 possible from the shoulder, and the head lies far back in the flank. 



The diagnosis of this deviation usually offers little difficulty. 

 It generally needs to be differentiated from onh' the two succeeding 

 forms of deviation, the downward and upward displacements. 



First, the operator must identify the two anterior limbs, one 

 or both of which are ordinarily in the passages. Having accom- 

 plished this, he is yet to determine whether the head is deviating 

 upward or downward, or, if laterally, whether it be to the right 

 or to the left. 



Fig. 133. Lateral Deviation of the Head. (St. Cvr. ) 



The determination of the direction is not always easy. If the 

 head can be reached, that decides the question. When the head 

 cannot be reached with the hand, the diagnosis becomes more 

 difficult. As a general rule it is only in the foal that the head 

 cannot be reached and examined with the hand, and in the foal 

 we are aided by the presence of the somewhat prominent mane. 

 If the head is bent laterally and the operator passes his hand as 

 far as possible along the presenting portion of the fetus, he will 

 usually be able to identify the withers. From this point, turning 



