194 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



tied around the handle of the instrument. Then in the intervals 

 between the pains the hocks are pushed forcibly back into the womb. 

 If by this means flexion can be effected in hocks and stifles, success 

 will follow ; the hind feet will pass into the womb and clear of the 

 brim of the pelvis and the body may now be advanced without 

 hindrance, the hind limbs falling into place when the hip joints are 

 extended. At the same time the pressure upon hind limbs must not 

 be relaxed until the buttocks are engaged in the pelvis, as otherwise 

 the feet may again get over the brim and arrest the progress of 

 delivery. 



Wlien the hind limbs are already so jammed into the pelvis that 

 it is impossible to return them, the calf must be sacrificed to save the 

 mother. Cords with running nooses are first put on the two hind 

 feet. The body must be skinned from the shoulders back as far as 

 can be reached, and is to be then cut in two, if possible, back of the 

 last rib. The remainder of the trunk is now pushed back into the 

 body of the womb and by traction upon the cords the hind feet are 

 brought up into the passages and the extraction will be compara- 

 tively easy. 



Hind presentation with one or hoth legs bent at the hock. — After 

 the bursting of the water bags, though labor pains continue, no part 

 of the fetus appears at the vulva unless it be the end of the tail. 

 On examination the buttocks are felt wedged against the spine at 

 the entrance of the pelvis and beneath them the bent hock joints 

 resting on the brim of the pelvis below. (PI. XVII, fig. 3.) The 

 calf has been caught by the labor pains while the limb was bent 

 beneath it and has been jammed into or against the rim of the pelvis, 

 so that extension of the limb became impossible. With the thigh 

 bent on the flank, the leg on the thigh, and the shank on the leg, and 

 all at once wedged into the passage, delivery is practically impos- 

 sible. 



The obvious remedy is to push the croup upward and forward and 

 extend the hind legs, and in the early stages this can usually be ac- 

 complished in the cow. A repeller (PI. XX, fig. 7) is planted across 

 the thighs and pointed upward toward the spine of the cow and 

 pushed forcibly in this direction during the intervals between labor 

 jDains. Meanwhile the oiled hand seizes the shank just below the 

 hock and uses it as a lever, pushing the body back and drawing the 

 foot forward, thus effectually seconding the action of the repeller. 

 Soon a distinct gain is manifest, and as soon as the foot can be 

 reached it is bent back strongly at the fetlock, held in the palm of 

 the hand, and pulled up, while the repeller, pressing on the buttocks, 

 assists to make room for it. In this way the foot may be brought 

 safely and easily over the brim of the pelvis without any risk of lac- 

 eration of the womb of the foot. After the foot has been lifted over 



