SUBCUTANEOUS A MFC 'TA TION. 2 1 5 



Some obstetrists have found difficulty in applying traction 

 to the inferior maxilla by means of a cord. First make a 

 perforating wound with the knife between the rami of the 

 lower jaw, then carry the looped cord over the jaw and push 

 it beyond the perforating incision with the loop resting 

 within the mouth and finally pass the free end of the cord 

 through the perforation from the buccal cavity outwards, 

 and drawing upon this the inferior maxilla is so engaged 

 that it will permit the application of powerful traction. 



Make a circular incision through the integument encir- 

 cling the head at a convenient point and separate the skin 

 backward toward the occiput by forcing the hand between 

 it and the bones or by using the chisel as a spatula or 

 dissecting it away with the Colin's scalpel, continuing the 

 separation over the occiput to the atloid region. Make a 

 transverse incision below across the trachea and oesophagus 

 and surrounding muscles and above through the ligamentum 

 nuchae. Grasp the head firmly with both hands and twist 

 it forcibly on its long axis rupturing the articular ligaments 

 and the remaining muscles and other soft tissues, detaching 

 the head at the occipito-atloid articulation. The removal 

 of the head greatly diminishes the bulk of the fetus and it 

 may now be repelled, or deviated parts brought into the 

 desired position or other operations performed. 



48. SUBCUTANEOUS AMPUTATION OF ANTERIOR LIMBS. 



Objects. Amputation of the anterior limbs is very 

 frequently called for in obstetric practice especially in the 

 mare, chiefly in cases of transverse presentation with all 

 four feet presenting and the head retained where it may be 

 impossible to safely correct the deviation ; in cases of wry 

 neck in the foal in the anterior presentation, when it is 

 impossible to correct the deviation of the head, or in any 

 case in the mare or cow where deviation of the head cannot 



