368 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOQTOR 



endeavour to place the head between them. If the head 

 only is met with, seize it by the muzzle and draw it gently 

 onward, searching for the feet, and drawing them one 

 after the other in the line of the head ; which manipula- 

 tions are, of course, only to be attempted during the throes 

 of the mother. 



So soon as the head and legs are got near the external 

 orifice, enclose each foot within the loop of a rope, then, 

 holding both ends so attached, endeavour to liberate the 

 foal by steady, not violent, pulling, timing your pull with 

 each throe or labour pain, unless by debility or protraction 

 they have ceased. When this is the case, try to revive 

 them by the administration of stimulants, especially 

 infusion of the ergot of rye, in two-drachm doses every 

 twenty minutes. Should this not effect the object within 

 the hour, proceed to extract the foal ; longer delay may 

 lose both mother and offspring. The blunt hook is some- 

 times used on these occasions where the hand cannot be 

 introduced ; it is a powerful aid with those who can direct 

 it skilfully. 



When the obstruction arises from an unnatural presenta- 

 tion of parts — that is, of other parts than the head and 

 fore feet, as of the loins, the croup, and one leg, the other 

 being doubled backward — it is evident we should endeavour 

 to change the position to the natural one (of the head) if 

 practicable. If not, we must bring the hinder feet forward, 

 and endeavour to make the extraction by this method. 

 Lastly, if all these means fail, we must proceed to lessen 

 the foetal mass by cutting out the embryo. 



When, from weakness, a very narrow pelvic opening on 

 the part of the mother, or monstrosity on the part of the 

 foal, no efforts can bring the foetal mass away entire, it 

 must be dismembered. A knife made for the purpose, 

 having the blade concealed, v/ith the haft lying within the 

 hollow of the hand, is to be taken up into the vagina. We 

 are told that occasionally hydrocephalus in the colt 

 prevents the head from passing. Such a case will detect 

 itself by the volume that will be felt on examination, and 

 which will be easily lessened by plunging the point of the 

 knife in the forehead, and evacuating the contents by 

 pressing the skull in ; when, laying hold of the muzzle, the 

 head may be brought through the pelvic opening. But it 

 is usually the natural size of the head which forms the 



