200 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



that the womb has been overdistended by its presence, and the two 

 adhere so closely that the motion of the one on the other is practically 

 impossible. 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 Ca^sar- 

 ean 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 espe- 

 cially applicable to the dead calf, it is also on occasion called for in 

 the case of the living. As a rule, the 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 preservation is to 

 be preferred. To those acquainted with the toil, fatigue, and discom- 

 fort of embryotomy, no discussion 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. When the correction of 

 the position is manifestly impossible, however, 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 dis- 

 memberment 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 liirib. — In cutting off a fore limb it is the 

 one presenting that should be selected, since it is much more easily 

 operated on, and its complete removal from the side of the chest 

 affords so much more space for manipulation that it often makes it 

 easy to bring the other missing limb or the 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 this 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 ; ( 5 ) the tough skin 

 left from the amputated limb may be used as a cord in subsequent 

 traction on the body of the calf; (c) the dissection and separation 

 of the limb are far more safely accomplished under the protection 

 of the enveloping skin than if the operator's hands and instruments 

 were in direct contact with the walls of the passages or womb; {d) 



