XECEssAnv .-iff) r.y \(>/:.\f.iL pahtl'ritiox. 261 



denies that tlie death of the foetus renders parturition slower or more 

 dillicult ; tliough he admits that if, at the commencement of tliis act, 

 there may chance to be any trifling irregularities in presentation or 

 position, tiiese may be recti^ed to a certain extent by the automatic or 

 more or less instinctive movements of the living fcetus. Jle concludes 

 that though the death of the foetus has certainly a great importance, so 

 far as the interests of the breeder are involved, as well as with regard 

 to obstetrical operations in ditiicult cases ; yet it has little or none so 

 far as parturition itself and its results to the mother are concerned. 



In the expulsive period, or third stage in parturition, it is usual to 

 consider such matters as when to rupture the water-bag, and when to 

 use traction on the fa'tus. This custom will be followed, and these 

 points noticed. 



liupture of the Water-bag. — This sliould not be artificially ruptured 

 too early ; indeed, in the Cow it should never, as a rule, be opened 

 artificially, as it is always spontaneously ruptured at the proper time, 

 and not infrequently sooner than it should be. Besides, the want of 

 tenacity in the membranes, their thinness, and the firmness of their 

 adhesion to the uterus, render this non-interference all the more 

 necessary. 



With the Mare, however, matters are different. In this animal the 

 fcetal membranes are thick, firm, and feebly adherent to the uterus; 

 so that the Foal is sometimes born completely enveloped in them. It 

 is, therefore, well to incise them when the water-bag appears as a large 

 tumour beyond the vulva ; until this happens nothing should be done, 

 unless the os is completely dilated, and the head and feet of the fcrtus 

 are well in it. The membranes may be torn by the fingers, or cut by 

 scissors or a knife, care being taken not to injure the Foal. 



When the water-bag is ruptured too early, the uterus contracts on 

 the foetus, as has been said, and becomes moulded on it ; this is opposed 

 to birth. Besides, the genital passage becomes dry and adherent, and 

 this is an additional obstacle. To remedy this, recourse must be had 

 to injections into the vagina of mucilaginous fluids, milk, glycerine and 

 water, oil, lard, bran and water, or even simple tepid water, wliich may 

 be introduced by a funnel, the Cow's hind quarters being slightly 

 raised. 



Traction of the Fir t us. —V^'hcxi the membranes arc once ruptured, the 

 natural expulsion of the foetus should be waited for. In some instances, 

 however, this expulsion may be conveniently assisted by judicious 

 traction on the fa;tus. If it is in the dor.'in-.sacral position, gentle 

 traction may be made on the pastern of each fore leg when these and 

 the head have cleared the vulva, the tractions coinciding with the 

 throes of the mother, which they should supplement, but must not 

 supplant. They ought to be made in a slightly oblique direction down- 

 wards, towards the hocks of the mother, so as to allow the body of the 

 ftctus to follow tlie curve of the pelvis ; inclining the traction a little to 

 the right and left, will also aid in passing the shoulders and afterwards 

 the haunches. The head and neck, wlien they are clear of the vulva, 

 should be supported. If the fa-tus is in the dorso-ilio-sacral position, 

 the direction of the feet must be watched and directed, as they have a 

 tendency to press against the sacrum, and may seriously injure the 

 passage. They should therefore be seized while they are yet in the 

 vagina, and brought gently outside the vulva along with the head, 



