CATTL-r. 



already described, and the shoulder detached, which, considering the 

 weakness of the muscles and ligaments at that age, will be readily 

 effected. The assistant then pulling steadily at the legs, and the 

 surgeon forcing the chest back into the belly, the extraction of the 

 foetus will rarely be difficult. 



It may happen that after many thoes no portion of the foetus ap- 

 pears, but the calf is found turned in the womb, with his back rest- 

 ing on the belly of the mother, the feet against the spine, the head 

 depressed below the bones of the pelvis, and the poll pressing against 

 these bones. To turn the calf in this position will be difficult, and 

 often impossible ; but, cords having been fastened, as before, to the 

 feet and the lower jaw, the hand should be introduced under the 

 head, so as to raise it in some measure, and enable the assistants, by 

 means of the cords, to bring it and the feet into the passage. If the 

 foetus should be dead, or the life of the mother appear to be in dan- 

 ger, it will be very easy, while in this position, to separate one or 

 both shoulders, and the head may then be readily brought out. 



It is not uncommon for the tail alone to be seen at the mouth of 

 the passage. This is a breech presentation, and a very dangerous 

 one. The calf cannot be expelled by the natural throes of the 

 mother, the doubling of the hind-legs offering an insuperable obstacle ; 

 nor will it be possible for the foetus to be turned in the womb. The 

 hand must be introduced ; one of the hocks searched out, and the 

 noose end of a cord brought round it : next, the free end of the cord 

 must be carried in and passed through the noose, which is to be 

 tightened and fixed above the hock. The operator must then press 

 against the breech, forcing the calf backward and upward, while the 

 assistants draw the hock to the commencement of the passage by 

 means of the cords. The surgeon should then shift his hand down 

 to the hoof, in order to guard the uterus, as the foot is brought over 

 the ridge of the pelvis. The other hock being afterwards drawn 

 from under the foetus in the same way, the birth may be easily ac- 

 complished. 



The birth being effected, the practitioner should examine the 

 womb, in order to ascertain the state of the placenta, and whether 

 there is a second calf. The case of twins will not often give the 

 practitioner much trouble, for the calves are generally small and 

 easilv brought through the passage, unless they should both present 

 themselves at the same time ; therefore, at the* commencement of 

 every labor, the surgeon should carefully ascertain whether the parts 

 presenting may not belong to two distinct calves ; in which case one 

 must be pushed back until the other is delivered, for in the attempt 

 to extract them both together, the mother and the calves would in- 

 evitably perish. 



FREE-MARTINS. 



The opmion has prevailed among breeders from time out of date, 



