.VAVAW^JA'l' All) IX Xol.M.lL rAnTHUTloX. 25^ 



tliose in the Mare with a narrow pelvis, to wliich that of the Cow bears 

 considerable resemblance. 



The same may he said of the positions in the tostkiuok i'uksknta- 

 riON. In the lumbo-sacral })osition, tlie stiHes of the Calf, beinj^ more 

 oblique than those of the Foal, are not so liable to be held by the 

 anterior border of the pubis, while another advanta^'e is to be found in 

 the smaller disproportion between the lengtli of femurs of the (!alf and 

 the sacro-pubic diameter of the Clow ; so that tlie Calf is more fre- 

 (juently born alive in this position than the Foal, wliile the Cow is more 

 rarely subject to injury, though extraneous aid may be necessary at 

 times. 



Other Animals. 



With regard to the smaller female animals, the same remarks are 

 applicable to presentations and positions, as in the case of the Mare 

 and Cow, and mors especially with reference to tlie Sheep and Goat. 

 In these latter, when there is only one foetus, birth is etTected by 

 the same mechanism, and when there are more than one it is no less 

 easy, as the fa-tuses are smaller. This is nearly always the case, also, 

 with the Sow, and still more frequently with the Bitch and Cat. 



It may be noted that with the common-bred Bitch, which has a more 

 or less elongated muzzle, when fecundated by a Dog of the same con- 

 formation and size, and which in due course brings forth from five ti> 

 eight young, there is usually no difliculty in delivery. The conical 

 form of the muzzle of the puppies, and the softness of their tissues, 

 permits their entering the inlet in this presentation, and passing easily 

 through it under the influence of the uterine and abdominal contrac- 

 tions. But when the Bitch is of small size, and is fecundated by a 

 young, vigorous, and larger Dog, and especially if the muzzle of either 

 or both parents is short, then the head of the puppies is usually large 

 and round, with the forehead higli, and the presentation offers grave, 

 and frequently insurmountable dilViculties. This is more especially the 

 case if the puppies are few in number, when they are usually larger. 

 This will be alluded to again when we come to treat of dillicult parturi- 

 tion. 



It may also be observed that in the Anterior Presentation, the foro 

 limbs of the ftetus — contrary to what takes place in the ^lare and Cow 

 — do not accompany the head, but are placed alongside the chest, owing 

 to this disproportionate size of the head, which is as voluniinous^if 

 not more so — than the chest in some instances ; but then the latter, 

 even with the legs alongside it, is easily reducible, while the head 

 is very slightly so. 



The Posterior Presentation is frequent in Carnivorous animals, but 

 birth is efifected under the same conditions as in the other species. 



CHAPTER III. 

 Necessary Aid in Normal Parturition. 



Although, as a rule, j)arturition is generally ellected in animals in 

 what we have designated a "spontaneous ' manner (without the inter- 

 vention of man), and without danger or prejudice to the mother or ofT- 

 spring ; and although these do not require that luinute and scrupuloua 



