DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 309 



side, dividing the constricted ring, which then 

 gives way, and usually the animal does well, I was 

 called to the country to see a cow that had been 

 in labor for two days. At 8 p. m. I made an ex- 

 amination, and found the mouth of the womb 

 closed and hard; it would only admit the one 

 finger. I applied belladonna extract, and gave 

 three drams of chloroform in a little linseed oil. 

 I went to rest, leaving orders to be called at 12 p. 

 m. On examining I found very little progress 

 had been made. I injected hot water per vagina 

 against it for one hour, applied more belladonna, 

 and gave half an ounce of chloroform. Two hours 

 after I again examined it and found I could pass 

 my two fingers and soon my hand. In a short time 

 it completely gave way, and delivery was soon ac- 

 complished. 



If we find on examining that the foetus is in 

 such a shape that it cannot be born, our first step 

 is to place the mother in a position that will throw 

 the contents of the abdomen forward and also pre- 

 vent her from straining. This is best accom- 

 plished by making a hole about eighteen inches 

 deep, placing the animal's four legs in it and keep- 

 ing them there by an assistant. The operator will 

 have very little' difficulty in putting the foal or calf 

 in its proper position. This particular has been 

 overlooked by writers on this subject. I have been 

 called to cases where a veterinary surgeon had 

 worked for hours trying to put the foetus in its 

 natural position, but failed. By adopting this plan 

 I relieved the animal in a few minutes. Hundreds 



