■262 XOILVAL PAKTrillTlUX. 



when traction may be employed. This should at first be made 

 upwards, so as to clear the withers from the brim of the pelvis, against 

 which they sometimes jam. \Yhen this is effected, the same proce- 

 dure as in the other case is to be adopted. 



In the dorso-ilial positions, it is alwaj's useful, when they are recog- 

 nised in time, and before the chest has entered the pelvis, or even when 

 it is in the vagina, to attempt to modify them by converting them into 

 one of the preceding positions, and particularly the dorso-sacral, or 

 dorso-ilio-sacral — though this modification requu'es the manipulative 

 skill of an experienced veterinary sui-geon. If the foetus is already in 

 the canal, delivery must be attempted according to the principles 

 already indicated : directing the feet towards the centre of the passage 

 and outside the vulva, and by seizing the fore-arms using them to turn 

 the withers towards the sacrum of the mother, then employing moderate 

 traction on the limbs. 



If the foetus presents posteriorly, in the hiinho - sacral position, 

 with the croup towards the maternal sacrum, the only way in which 

 birth can be effected naturally is when the feet of the hinder extremities 

 lead and dilate the os. This position is recognised by the coronary and 

 pastern joints being bent upwards, and by the hocks, which are deeper 

 situated, are flexed in the opposite direction, and are distinguished 

 by their broad flat sides and the blunt point of the calcis, which points 

 in a contrary direction to the flexure of the joint. In this position, the 

 two limbs are to be seized at the pastern, and traction exercised at first 

 slightly upwards, in order to carry the stifles over the brim of the 

 pubis, which sometimes checks them ; then downwards, to bring the 

 croup below the sacrum ; and lastly, an alternate movement from right 

 to left and left to right, to free the haunches, one after the other. It is 

 well to see that the tail of the foetus is in a right direction before traction 

 has been much practised. 



In the lumho-ilio-sacral and luviho-illal positions, the foetal croup 

 passes along easily when the pelvis is deeper than it is wide — as in the 

 Cow, for instance. The limbs onty need careful direction through the 

 vagina, and when the croup has entered the pelvic cavity the body 

 should be so rotated as to bring the large diameter of the chest to corre- 

 spond with the vertical diameter of the inlet. If the Mare has a wide 

 pelvis, it would be preferable to place the foetus in the lumbo-sacral 

 position. 



We may remark, however, with regard to gemellar parturition, that this 

 kind of pregnancy is not usually recognised in uniparous animals until 

 birth takes place. The escape of only a small quantity of liquor amnii, 

 and the small size of the creature first delivered, when compared with the 

 size of the mother's abdomen, are not infallible indications that more 

 young will be produced. Soon, however, another water-bag appears, 

 and another foetus presents at the vulva. Not unfrequently, when the 

 position of the two foetuses is natural, they present one after the other 

 successively, and without any assistance being required. This is the 

 case more particularly with the Sheep and Goat — animals which so 

 often produce twins. But sometimes, and especially with the larger 

 animals, the two foetuses present themselves simultaneously at the 

 pelvic inlet, and neither can pass through. In such a case, which it 

 must be confessed is rare, it is necessarj- to push back the one least 

 favourably presenting, and to keep it away until the fore limbs of the 

 other are engaged in the passage. If the two foetuses chance to be in 



