DIFFICULT PARTURITION. 179 



HEAD TURNED BACK ON THE SHOULDER. 



In this case the fore feet present, and the oiled hand passed along 

 the forearms in search of the missing head finds the side of the neck 

 turned to one side, the head being perhaps entirely out of reach. 

 (Plate XIV, fig. 1.) To bring forward the head it may be desirable 

 to lay the mare on the opposite side to that to which the head is 

 turned, and even to give chloroform or ether. Then the feet being 

 noosed, the body of the fetus is pushed by the hand or repeller for- 

 ward and to the side opposite to that occupied by the head until the 

 head comes within reach, near the entrance of the pelvis. If such 

 displacement of the fetus is difficult, it may be facilitated by a free 

 use of oil or lard. AVhen the nose can be seized it can be brought into 

 the passage, as when the head is turned down. If it can not be 

 reached, the orbit may be availed of to draw the head forward until 

 the nose can be seized or the lower jaw noosed. In very difficult 

 cases a rope may be passed around the neck by the hand or with the 

 aid of a curved carrier (Plate IX), and traction may be made upon 

 this while the body is being rotated to the other side. In the same 

 way in bad cases a hook may be fixed in the orbit or even between 

 the bones of the lower jaw to assist in bringing the head up into 

 position. Should all fail, the amputation of the fore limbs may be 

 resorted to as advised under the last heading. 



HEAD TURNED UPWARD ON THE BACK. 



This differs from the last malpresentation only in the direction of 

 the head, which has to be sought above rather than at one side, and 

 is to be secured and brought forward in a similar manner. (Plate 

 XIV, fig. 2.) If a rope can be passed around the neck it will prove 

 most effectual, as it naturally slides nearer to the head as the neck is 

 straightened and ends by bringing the head within easy reach. 



HIND FEET ENGAGED IN THE PELVIS. 



In this case fore limbs and head present naturally, but the hind 

 limbs bent forward from the hip and the loins arched allow the hind 

 feet also to enter the passages, and the further labor advances the 

 more firmly does the body of the foal become wedged into the pelvis. 

 (Plate XIII, fig. 2.) The condition is to be recognized by introduc- 

 ing the oiled hand along the belly of the fetus, when the hind feet 

 will be felt advancing. An attempt should at once be made to push 

 them back, one after the other, over the brim of the pelvis. Failing 

 in this, the mare may be turned on her back, head downhill, and the 

 attempt renewed. If it is possible to introduce a straight rope car- 

 rier, a noose passed through this may be put on the fetlock and the 

 repulsion thereby made more effective. In case of continued failure 



