UNNATURAL PRESENTATION. 391 



UNNATURAL PRESENTATION. 



It will soon be evident whether the calf is in the right position. 

 The appearance of the feet and the situation of the head will be 

 satisfactory on this point ; but from friglit, or violence, or some un- 

 known cause, the position of the foetus is sometimes strangely altered, 

 so as to render its extraction difficult or impossible. 



In some cases, although the throes rapidly succeed each other and 

 are not deficient in power, nothing, or perhaps only the mere hoofs, 

 protrude from the vagina. This must not be suflered long to con- 

 tinue, for if it does, the strength of the cow will be rapidly wasted. 

 The hand and arm, having been well oiled, must be introduced into 

 the passage, in order to ascertain the position of the fcetus. The 

 whole of the passage being probably well occupied by the head or 

 fore-limbs, and the uterus and the vagina powerfully contracting, the 

 arm of the operator will receive very considerable and benumbing 

 pressure ; and sometimes to such an extent that the perfect feeling 

 of the limb will not be restored until some hours have passed. This 

 must not be regarded, but the surgeon must steadily, yet not vio- 

 lently, push the arm forward, taking care that he does not wound 

 the cow with his nails. 



If he find the fore-feet far up the passage, and the head between 

 them, but sunk down below the bones of the pelvis, he will immedi- 

 ately perceive that the extraction of the calf is impossible while it 

 remains in this position. He will therefore pass a cord with a slip- 

 knot round each of the feet, and then push them back into the womb. 

 Next, Avith the slip-knot of a third cord in his hand, he will push 

 back the whole of the foetus gradual!}^, but firmly, until he is able to 

 get his hand under the head and elevate it and pass the noose round 

 the lower jaw : then, grasping the upper jaw and endeavoring thus 

 to raise the muzzle above the rim of the pelvis, his assistants will 

 draw the three cords, and easily bring the head and the feet into the 

 passage in the natural position. 



If the head be not depressed between the feet, but bent down on 

 one side below the passage, cords must be put round the fore-feet, 

 and they are to be returned as in the other case. The head is to be 

 sought out, and a noose passed round the jaw, and then the operator 

 putting his hand against the chest of the foetus and pusliing it back, 

 his assistants are t(y gently draw the three cords, until t!ie head a-.d 

 the feet are properly placed. Great care should, however, he taken, 

 that in drawing out the fore-feet the womb is not injui-ed by the 

 hoofs ; they should generally be brought forward separately, and 

 guarded by the hand of the operator within the womb. If there 

 should be insuperable difficulty in raising and bringing the head 

 round, and the calf be d^ad, the skin must be turned back from one 

 of the legs, beginning at the fore-arm and reaching the shoulder, as t, 



