278 VETERINARY STUDIES 



Beware of injuring the maternal parts; be patient and work 

 slowly. 



In case of twins, both presenting at the same time, force one 

 back into the uterus and deliver one at a time. Avoid all un- 

 necessary dissections, which are usually very tedious, exhausting 

 to the operator, and mother as well. 



Always save the skin, leaving enough to cover the bones and 

 rough parts of the fetus, and to pull on. 



Removing a fore linib. — Take the limb that is presenting, 

 attach cord and draw out, as far as possible ; slit the skin from 

 as near the top of the scapula as possible to the knee or pastern 

 by means of an embryotomy knife, and dissect the skin loose 

 from the limb, largely by fingers or with the aid of a thin bladed 

 case knife wdth a square end ; then cut last the skin around the 

 knee or pastern. Next cut the muscles between the limb and the 

 sternum. By twisting and pulling at the same time, the limb 

 can then be removed entire, leaving the skin attached to the 

 shoulder. Do the dissecting with one hand, while the other 

 pulls on the skin outside. The skin gives an object to pull by, 

 and protects the parts of the mother from bones. It also keeps 

 the soft parts of the fetus from rolling up as an obstruction 

 when pressed against the parts of the mother. 



Removing the head. — If the head can be brought outside the 

 vulva, and there is good reason for removing it (which is not 

 often), cut the skin around the neck, back of the ears, and 

 dissect the skin loose from the muscles by the hand or by a thin 

 bladed case knife with square end, using a knife to cut the 

 connective tissue bands that interfere, as far as the operator 

 can reach. Then cut the cord on top of the neck, the cord that 

 supports the head, and also the muscles around the vertebra?. 

 Strong pulling and twisting on the head will usually bring away 

 head and neck, leaving a- quantity of skin to cover remaining 

 vertebra? and to assist in pulling. 



Removal of the hind limbs. — This is done on the same general 

 principle as for the fore limb. Supposing the limb is present- 

 ing, cut across the pelvic articulation of the limb on the inside 

 so as to sever the ligament which holds the femur strongly to 

 the pelvis. Slit the skin from this point to the hock or pastern 

 according to the case. Dissect the skin loose from the limb, as 

 directed for the fore limb. Then by strong pulling and twisting 

 the limb can be torn loose at this joint. 



