222 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



way be equally dry and inflamed and swollen, so tlu.t its lining- mem- 

 brane or even its entire thickness is easily torn,- the fetal membranes 

 have lost their natural unctuous and slippery character, and cling 

 firmly to the dry walls of the womb, to the dry skin of the calf, or to 

 the hands of the operator; the dead and putrefying calf may be so 

 bloated with gases that the womb has been overdistended by its pres- 

 ence, and the two adhere so closely that the motion of the one on the 

 other is practically impovssible. In other cases reckless attempts to 

 cut the calf in pieces have left raw surfaces with projecting bones 

 which dangerously scratch and tear the womb and passages. 



In many cases the extreme resort must be had of cutting the fetus 

 to pieces (embryotomy), or the still more redoubtable one of Csesarean 

 section (extraction through the flank). 



DISSECTION OF THE UNBORN CALF EMBRYOTOMY. 



In some cases the dissection of the calf is the only feasible means of 

 delivering it through the natural passages, and while it is especially 

 applicable to the dead calf, it is also on occasions called for in the case 

 of the living. As a rule, a living calf should be preserved if possible, 

 but if this threatens to entail the death of the cow, it is only in the case 

 of offspring of rare value that its presentation is to be preferred. To 

 those acquainted with the toil, fatigue, and discomfort of embryotomy, 

 no dissuasion is necessary so long as there is a prospect of success from 

 the simple and generally easier method of rectifying the faulty position 

 of the calf. But when the correction of the position is manifestly 

 impossible, when distortions and monstrosities of the fetus successfully 

 obstruct delivery; when the pelvic passages are seriously contracted 

 by fractures and bony growths; when the passages are virtually almost 

 closed by swelling, or when the calf is dead and excessively swollen, 

 no other resort may be available. In many cases of distortion and 

 displacement the dismemberment of the entire calf is unnecessary, the 

 removal of the offending member being all that is required. It will be 

 convenient, therefore, to describe the various suboperations one by 

 one, and in the order in which they are usually demanded. 



AMPUTATION OF THE FORE IJMD. 



In cutting off a fore limb it is the one presenting that should be 

 selected, since it is much nu>re easily operated on, and its complete 

 removal from the side of the chest affords so much more space for 

 manipulation that it is not often difficult to bring the missing limb or 

 head into position. The first consideration is to skin the limb from the 

 fetlock up and leave the skin attached to the body. The reasons for 

 tli is are: (a) That the skin is the most resistant structure of the limb, 

 and when it has been removed the entire limb can be easily detached ; 

 (b) the tough skir left from the amputated limb may be used as a cord 



