DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 181 



some respite may be obtained by the use of chloroform or morphia 

 and by turning the mare on her back, but too often the operator 

 fails and the foal must be sacrificed. Two courses are still open: 

 First, to cut through the cords behind and above the hock and extend 

 the upper part of the limb, leaving the hock bent, and extract in 

 this way, and, second, to amputate the hind limbs at the hip joint 

 and remove them separately, after which the body may be extracted. 



HIND PRESENTATION WITH LEGS BENT FORWARD FROM THE HIP. 



This is merely an aggravated form of the presentation last de- 

 scribed. (Plate XIII, fig. 1.) If the mare is roomy, a rope may be 

 passed around each thigh and the body pushed upward and forward, 

 so as to bring the hocks and heels upward. If this can be accom- 

 plished, nooses are placed on the limb farther and farther down until 

 the fetlock is reached and brought into position. If failure is met 

 with, then amputation at the hips is the last resort. 



HIND PRESENTATIONS WITH THE BACK TURNED SIDEWAYS OR 



DOWNWARD. 



These are the counterparts of similar anterior presentations and 

 are to be managed in the same way. 



PRESENTATION OF THE BACK. 



This is rare, yet not unknown, the foal being bent upon itself with 

 the back, recognizable by its sharp row of spines, presented at the 

 entrance of the pelvis and the head and all four feet turned back into 

 the womb. (Plate XII, fig. 1.) The body of the fetus may be ex- 

 tended across the opening transversely, so that the head corresponds 

 to one side (right or left), or it may be vertical, with the head above 

 or below. 



In any such position the object should be to push the body of the 

 fetus forward and upward or to one side, as may best promise to bring 

 up the fore or hind extremities, and bring the latter into the passage 

 so as to constitute a normal anterior or posterior presentation. This 

 turning of the fetus may be favored by a given position of the mother, 

 by the free use of oil or lard on the surface of the fetus, and by the 

 use of a propeller. 



PRESENTATION OF BREAST AND ABDOMEN. 



This is the reverse of the back presentation, the foal being extended 

 across in front of the pelvic opening, but with the belly turned toward 

 the passages and with all four feet engaged in the passage. (Plate 

 XII, fig. 2.) The most promising course is to secure the hind feet 

 with nooses and then push the fore feet forward into the womb. As 



