173 



the breast is pressed in a direction uj)ward and backward while active 

 traction is made on the ropes. If the feet are not thereby raised from 

 the floor of the pelvis the palm of the hand may l)e placed beneath 

 them to protect the mucous membrane until they have advanced suf- 

 ficiently to obviate this danger. In the absence of a repeller, a smooth 

 rounded fork-handle maybe employed. If the shortening is too great 

 to allow of the extension of the limbs in this waj', the tense tendons 

 ma)^ be cut across behind the shank bone and in front of the elbow, 

 and the limb will be easily straightened out. This is most easily done 

 with an embryotomy' knife furnished with a ring for the middle fin- 

 ger, so that the blade maybe protected in the palm of the hand. (See 

 Plate XIV, Fig. 4.) 



ONE PORE-LIMB CROSSED OVER THE BACK OF THE NECK. 



With the long fore-limbs of the foal this readily occurs and the result- 

 ing increase in thickness, both at the head and shoulder, offers a seri- 

 ous obstacle to progress. (See Plate X, Fig. 2. ) The hand introduced 

 into the passage detects the head and one fore foot, and further back 

 on the same side of the head the second foot, from which the limb 

 may be traced obliquely across the back of the neck. 



If parturition continues to make progress the displaced foot may 

 bruise and lacerate the vagina. By seizing the limb above the fetlock it 

 may be easily pushed over the head to the proper side, when parturition 

 will proceed normally. 



FORE-LIMB BENT AT THE KNEE. 



The nose and one fore foot x)resent, and on examination the knee of 

 the missing fore-limb is found farther back. (Plate X, Fig. 1.) First 

 place a noose each on the presenting pastern and lower jaw, and push 

 back the body of the foetus with a repeller, while the operator seizing 

 the shank of the bent limb extends it so as to press back the knee and 

 bring forward the fetlock and foot. As progress is made little by lit- 

 tle the hand is slid down from the region of the knee to the fetlock, 

 and finally that is secured and brought \\p into the passage, when 

 parturition will proceed without hindrance. If both fore-limbs are 

 bent back the head must be noosed and the limbs brought up as above, 

 one after the other. It is usually best to employ the left hand for the 

 right fore-limb, and the right hand for the left fore-limb. 



FORE- LIMB TURNED BACK FROM THE SHOULDER. 



In this case, on exploration by the side of the head and jiresenting 

 limb, the shoulder only can be reached at first. (Plate X, Fig. 4.) By 

 noosing the head and presenting fore-limb these may be drawn for- 

 ward into the pelvis, and the oiled hand being carried along the shoul- 

 dei' in the direction of the missing limb is enabled to reach and seize 

 the fore-arm just below the elbow. The bodj^ is now pushed back by 



