226 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



xx, Fig. 1), and then disjoint the bones of the spine (mcrum) and the hip 

 bone (ilium) on that side with embryotome, knife, or saw, and then 

 drag away the entire limb, along with all the hip bones on that side. 

 This has the advantage of securing more room and thereby facilitating 

 subsequent operations. Both limbs may be removed in this way, but 

 on the removal of the second the operator is without any solid point to 

 drag upon in bringing away the remainder of the fetus. 



DIVISION ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE BODY. 



Ill cases of extra size, monstrosity, or distortion of one end of the body, 

 it may be requisite to cut the body in two and return the half from the 

 passages into the womb, eVen after one half has been born. The pre- 

 senting members are dragged upon forcibly by assistants to bring as 

 much of the body as possible outside. Then cut through the skin 

 around the body at some distance from the vulva, and with hand, knife, 

 and spud detach it from the trunk as far back into the passages as can 

 be reached. Next cut across the body at the point reached, beginning 

 at the lower part (breast, belly) and proceeding up toward the spine. 

 This greatly favors the separation of the backbone when reached, and 

 further allows of its being extended so that it can be divided higher up. 

 When the backbone is reached, the knife is passed between the two 

 bones, the prominent ridges across their ends acting as guides, and by 

 dragging and twisting the one is easily detached from the other. With 

 an anterior presentation the separation should, if possible, be made 

 behind the last rib, while with a posterior presentation as many of the 

 ribs should be brought away as can be accomplished. Having removed 

 one half of the body, the remaining half is to be pushed back into the 

 womb, the feet sought and secured with nooses, and the second half 

 removed in one piece, if possible, and, if not, then after the removal of 

 the extra limb or other cause of obstruction. 



UEMOVAL OF THE CONTENTS OF CHEST OR ABDOMEN. 



If the body of the calf sticks fast in the passages by reason of the 

 mere dryness of its skin and of the passages, the obstacle may be 

 removed by injecting sweet oil past the fetus into the womb through a 

 rubber or other tube, and smearing the passages freely with lard. 

 When the obstruction depends on excess of size of the chest or abdo- 

 men, or thickening of the body from distorted spine, much advantage 

 may be derived from the removal of the contents of these great cavities 

 of the trunk. We have already seen how the haunches may be nar- 

 rowed by cutting the bones apart in the median line below and causing 

 their free edges to overlap each other. The abdomen can be cut open 

 by the enibryotomy knife or the long enibryotome in the median line, 

 or at any point, and the contents pulled out with the hand, the knife 

 being used in any case when especial resistance is encountered. If the 

 abdomen is so firmly impacted that it can not be dealt with in this way, 



