DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 203 



If the calf is a double-headed monster, the skinning of the head 

 must be carried backward until the point has been reached where 

 both heads branch from the single neck, and the separation must be 

 made at that point. The muscles and ligaments are first to be cut 

 through; and if the part can not then be detached by pulling, the 

 bodies of the vertebrae may be separated by passing the knife through 

 the joint. The second head may now be secured by a noose around 

 the lower jaw or hooks in the orbits and brought up into place, the 

 body being pushed back toward the other side by a repeller, so as to 

 make room. 



It should be added that, except in the case of a double-headed 

 monster, or in case of the head protruding or nearly so, and one or 

 both fore limbs presenting, it is rarely desirable to undertake ampu- 

 tation of the head. The space desirable in the passages can usually 

 be obtained by the much simpler and easier procedure of removing 

 one or both fore limbs. 



Amputation of the hind limhs. — This is sometimes demanded on 

 the one extended limb when the other can not be brought up and de- 

 livery can not be effected; also in case of monsters having extra 

 hind limbs ; when the calf is dead, putrid, and bloated with gas ; and 

 in some cases of breech presentation, as described under that head. 



When the limb is extended the guiding principles are as in the case 

 of the fore limbs. The skin is cut through circularly above the fet- 

 lock and slit up to beneath the pelvic bones on the inner side of the 

 thigh. It is then dissected from the other parts as high as it has been 

 slit on the inner side and to above the prominence ( trochanter major) 

 on the upper end of the thigh bone on the outer side of the joint. In 

 this procedure the hands and spud can do much, but owing to the 

 firmer connections the knife will be more frequently required than in 

 the case of the fore limb. The muscles are now cut through all 

 around the hip joint, and strong traction is made by two or three men 

 on the limb. If there is still too much resistance, a knife is inserted 

 into the joint on the inner side and its round ligament cut through, 

 after which extraction will be comparatively easy. This accom- 

 plished, it will often be possible to extract the fetus with the other 

 leg turned forward into the womb. If the calf is bloated with gas, it 

 may be necessary to remove the other leg in the same way, and even 

 to cut open the chest and abdomen and remove their contents before 

 extraction can be effected. In the case of extra limbs it may be pos- 

 sible to bring them up into the passages after the presenting hind 

 limbs have been removed. If this is not practicable, they may be de- 

 tached by cutting them through at the hip joint, as described under 

 " Breech presentation," page 195. 



Another method of removing the hind limb is, after having 

 skinned it over the quarter, to cut through the pelvic bones from 



