296 MATERNAL DYSTOKIA. 



falls, utterly prostrated by its efforts. As the uterine contractions gene- 

 rally increase in violence in the presence of obstacles to birth, there is 

 the gravest danger to mother and offspring. 



In such a case, the veterinarian, having introduced his hand into the 

 pelvis in the ordinary way, endeavours to discover if the obstacle is 

 there. With this object in view, he closes his hand to try if he can 

 move his shut fist about in every direction, and with ease. Then stretch- 

 ing out the thumb, he can approximately judge the distance which 

 intervenes between opposite points of the pelvic circumference, and in 

 this way appreciate to a certain degree whether a moderate-sized foetus 

 could pass through. For if the pelvis is so contracted that the closed 

 hand can scarcely move about in it, it will be needless to attempt forcible 

 extraction, as the foetus cannot be brought through. 



Saint-Cyr has calculated that the closed hand of an adult man repre- 

 sents an irregular mass measuring between three and four and a half 

 inches in diameter; but the head of a Calf, in its supero-inferior diameter, 

 measures from seven to ten inches, and four to five inches in transverse 

 diameter. It is therefore obvious that the head of a Calf could not pass 

 through an aperture in which the hand cannot move freely ; and much 

 less the chest of a Foal, which is at least twelve to thirteen inches in 

 depth. 



It is also necessary to take into consideration the cause of dystokia. 

 If this is due to a complete deformity of the pelvis, then the case is 

 serious, and there is little hope of traction alone overcoming the difti- 

 culty. If it is due to a tumour, and localised, then it must be ascertained 

 if this is of a bony character, arising from an exostosis or fracture ; or 

 if it is movable and independent. If the latter, the case is not so 

 serious, and especially if the tumour is connected with the sacro-sciatic 

 ligament ; as it may be pushed out of the way of the foetus, and birth 

 take place. 



As Saint-Cyr insists, all these considerations should be weighed before 

 deciding to terminate parturition by mechanical traction ; for if the im- 

 possibility of accomplishing it by this means is discovered when too 

 late, the other operations are rendered more difficult and dangerous, in 

 consequence of the ineffectual attempts at forced extraction. 



If extraction of the entire foetus is discovered to be practicable and 

 the position is favourable, then there should not be much difficulty in 

 effecting delivery, which may be achieved as in ordinary circumstances. 

 It will be much facilitated, should the foetus and the passage be dry and 

 tenacious, if these are lubricated with oil or soapy fluid. 



If, however, the foetus has become wedged in the passage and cannot 

 be pulled through, it may be useful to push it back a little into the 

 uterine cavity, and then lubricate it and the vagina with some oily 

 matter to assist movement, before another attempt is made. 



3. Enlargement of the Passage. — This is nearly always impossible 

 in practice, unless the cause be a tumour which can either be excised 

 or moved temporarily out of the way, so as to permit dehvery. 



4. Diminution of the Size of the Fcetus. — With the domestic 

 animals, as we have repeatedly said, thex-e are no moral considerations 

 to oppose us when it comes to a question of sacrificing the foetus to save 

 the life of the parent. And with the Mare there should be no hesitation 

 in this direction, when a careful examination has proved delivery of the 



