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the front of the hoofs and knees and the forehead directed upward 

 toward the anus, tail, and croup (Plate IX, Fig. 1). In this way the 

 natural curvature of the body of the foetus corresponds to the curve 

 of the womb and genital passages, and particularly of the bony i>el- 

 vis, and the foal passes with much greater ease than if it were placed 

 with its back downward toward the udder. When there is a twin 

 birth the second foal usually comes with its hind feet first, and the 

 backs of the legs, the points of the hocks, and the tail and croup are 

 tui-ned upward toward the anus and tail of the mare (Plate IX, Fig. 2). 

 In this way, even with a jjosterior presentation, the curvature of the 

 l)od3' of the foal still corresponds to that of the passages, and its 

 expulsion may be quite as easy as in anterior presentation. Any 

 presentation aside from these two maj^ be said to be abnormal and 

 will be considered under "Difficult Parturition." 



DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 



With natural iDresentation this is a rare occurrence. The great 

 length of the fore limbs and face entail, in the anterior presentation, 

 the formation of a long cone, which dilates aiid glides through the 

 ])assages with comparative ease. Even with the hind feet first a simi- 

 lar conical form is presented, and the process is rendered easy and 

 quick. Difficulty and danger arise mainly from the act being brought 

 on prematurel}'' before the passages are sufficiently dilated, from nar- 

 rowing of the pelvic bones or other mechanical obstruction in the pas- 

 sages, from monstrous distortions, or duplications in the foetus, or 

 from the turning back of one of the members so that the elongated 

 conical or wedge-shaped outline is done away with. But i)romptas is 

 tlie normal parturition in the mare, difficult and delayed parturitions 

 are surrounded by special dangers and require unusual i^recautions 

 and skill. From the proclivity of the mare to unhealthy inflamma- 

 tions of the peritoneum and other abdominal organs, i^enetrating 

 wounds of the womb or vagina are liable to prove fatal. The contrac- 

 tions of the womb and abdominal walls are so powerful as to exhaust 

 and ])enumb the arm of the assivStant, and to endanger penetrating 

 wounds of the genital organs. By reason of the looser connection of 

 the foetal membranes with the womb, as compared with those of rumi- 

 nants, the violent throes early detach these membranes throughout 

 their whole extent, and the foal, being thus separated from the mother 

 and thrown on its own resources, dies at an early stage of any jjro- 

 tracted parturition. The foal rarely survives four hours after the 

 onset of parturient throes. From the great length of the limbs and 

 neck of the foal it is extremely difficult to secure and bring up limb or 

 head which has been turned back when it should have been presented. 

 When assistance must be rendered the operator should don a thick 

 woolen undershirt with the sleeves cut out at the shoulders. This 

 51JG1 — HOR (J 



