236 NORMAL PARTURITION. 



animals ; and very often, especially with the Cow, they bring forth in a 

 reclining position — maintained from the very commencement of the act, 

 and only rising when birth is completed (Fig. 70). These cases, which 

 are quite natural, though debility may be present, offer nothing par- 

 ticular in the position of the female — it being merely that assumed on 

 ordinary occasions, though, of course, parturition is more difficult. 



The animal rests on the sternum, the body inclined to the right or 

 left side, the fore limbs flexed beneath the chest, and the hind ones 

 beneath the abdomen. In this attitude labour is carried on somewhat 

 as when standing. The creature, reclining on the breast and partially 

 on the quarter, arches the back in straining, slightly raises itself on the 

 hind feet, and drops again when the pain has subsided. 



It is rare indeed that these animals lie full length on one side of the 

 body during parturition, and when it does occur it nearly always indi- 

 cates a long, difficult, and exhausting labour. 



Multiparous animals — as the Bitch, Cat, and Sow — always assume 

 the recumbent position, and lie reclining on one side, with the body 



Fig. 69. 

 Cow IN THE Act of Parturition : Standing Position. 



disposed in a semicircular fashion, the head towards the tail. This 

 position appears to be very favourable to birth, the sacro-vertebral angle 

 being effaced, and the young being spared the risk of falling ; in 

 addition, each foetus as it issues from the vulva is within reach of the 

 mother's mouth ; so that it can, without disturbing itself, remove the 

 membranes from it, divide the umbilical cord, clean it with its tongue, 

 put it in a proper position, and even direct its head towards the teat, 

 in order to soothe it while another is born. It may be remarked that, 

 with the Sow, the young creature is expelled with such force from the 

 vulva that it often turns a somersault. It may also be observed that, 

 with the small multiparous animals the "water-bag" usually only 

 appeal's with the first of the litter, the others being preceded or followed 

 by their ruptured membranes. 



The total duration of parturition is, of course, extremely variable, not 

 only according to accidental circumstances, individual peculiarities, and 

 species, but even in the same animal at different births. With the 



1 



