194 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



the head will be brought up sufficiently to allow the operator to reach 

 the orbit or nose. If even the jaw can not be reached, the hook may- 

 be inserted in the neck as near to the head as possible and traction 

 employed so as to bring the head within reach. 



In all such cases the cow's head should be turned downhill, and in 

 case of special difficulty she should be turned on her back and held 

 there until the head is secured. In old standing cases, with the womb 

 closely clasping the body of the calf, relaxation may be sought by the 

 use of chloroform or a full dose of chloral hydrate — 2 ounces ; and the 

 free injection of warm water into the womb will also be useful. 



HEAD TURNED BACK ON THE SHOULDER. 



With a natural anterior presentation this may happen because of 

 the imperfect dilation of the mouth of the womb. Under the throes 

 of the mother the fore feet pass through the narrow opening into the 

 vagina, while the nose, striking against it and unable to enter, is 

 pressed backward into the womb and turns aside on the right or left 

 shoulder. The broad muzzle of the calf forms an aspecial obstacle to 

 entrance and favors this deviation of the head. The worst form of 

 this deviation is the old standing one with shortening of the muscles 

 of the neck on that side, and oftentimes distortion of the face and 

 neck bones, as noticed under " Monstrosities " p. 184). 



When the head is bent on the shoulder the feet appear in the natural 

 way, but no progress is made, and examination reveals the absence of 

 the nose from between the knees, and farther back, from above and 

 between the elbows, a smooth rounded mass is felt extending to the 

 right or left, which further examination will identify with the neck. 

 Following the upper border of this the hand reaches the crown of the 

 head with the ears, and still farther the eyes, or even in a small calf 

 the nose. 



As the bulky head of the calf can not be extracted along with the 

 shoulders, it becomes necessary to push back the body of the fetus and 

 straighten out the head and neck. The cow should be laid with its 

 head downhill and with that side up toward which the head is turned. 

 If the throes are very violent, or the womb strongly contracted on the 

 calf, it may be best to seek relaxation by giving chlorofomi;, or 2 

 ounces of laudanum, or 2 ounces of chloral hydrate. If the calf or 

 the passages are dry, sweet oil may be injected, or the whole may be 

 liberally smeared with fresh lard. In the absence of these, warm 

 water rendered slightly slippery by Castile soap may be injected into 

 the womb in quantity. Ropes with running nooses are placed on the 

 presenting feet and the oiled hand introduced to find the head. If, 

 now, the fingers can be passed inside the lower jawbone, and drag the 

 head upward and toward the passage, it unwinds the spiral turn given 



