DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 205 



abdomen is so firmly impacted that it can not be dealt within this 

 way, one hind limb and the hip bone on the same side may be re- 

 moved as described under "Amputation of the hind limbs," page 203. 

 This will allow" the introduction of the hand into the abdomen from 

 behind, so as to pull out the contents. By introducing an embryot- 

 omy knife in the palm of the hand and cutting through the muscle 

 of the diaphragm the interior of the chest can be reached in the 

 same way and the heart and lungs removed. 



When, in dealing with an anterior presentation, it becomes neces- 

 sary to remove the contents of the chest, the usual course is to cut 

 through the connections of the ribs with the breastbone (the costal 

 cartilages) close to the breastbbne on each side, and from the abdo- 

 men forward to the neck. Then cut through the muscles connecting 

 the front of the breastbone w^ith the neck and its hinder end with the 

 belly, and pull out the entire breastbone. Having torn out the heart 

 and lungs with the hand, make the rib cartilages on the one side over- 

 lap those on the other, so as to lessen the thickness of the chest, and 

 proceed to extract the body. If it seems needful to empty the abdo- 

 men as well, it is easy to reach it by cutting through the diaphragm, 

 which separates it from the chest. 



Delivery through the fank {Ccesarean section^ or laparotomy). — 

 This is sometimes demanded, when the distortion and narrowing of 

 the hip bones are such as to forbid the passage of the calf, or when 

 inflammation has practically closed the natural passages and the 

 progeny is more valuable and worthy of being saved than the dam ; 

 also in cases in which the cow has been fatally injured, or is ill beyond 

 possibility of recovery and yet carries a living calf. It is too often a 

 last resort after long and fruitless efforts to deliver by the natural 

 channels, and in such cases the saving of the calf is all that can be 

 expected, the exhausted cow^, already the subject of active inflamma- 

 tion and too often also of putrid poisoning, is virtually beyond hope. 

 The hope of saving the dam is greatest if she is in good health and 

 not fatigued, in cases, for example, in which the operation is resorted 

 to on account of broken hip bones or abnormally narrow passages. 



The stock owner will not attempt such a serious operation as this. 

 Yet, if the mother has just died or is to be immediately sacrificed, 

 no one should hesitate to resort to it in order to save the calf. If 

 alive, it is important to have the cow perfectly still. Her left fore leg 

 being bent at the knee by one person, another may seize the left horn 

 and nose and turn the head to the right until the nose rests on the 

 spine just above the shoulder. The cow will sink down gently on her 

 left side without shock or struggle. One may now hold the head 

 firmly to the ground, while a second, carrying the end of the tail from 

 behind forward on the inside of the right thigh, pulls upon it so as to 

 keep the right hind limb well raised from the ground. If time presses 



