458 FCETAL DYSTOKIA. 



reverse of that of the pelvis ; so that it cannot readily accommodate 

 itself to the bony canal through which it should pass. From all 

 these causes, this position is not only unfavourable to birth, and must 

 be remedied, but it may also lead to serious accidents. 



The position appears to be more frequently met with in the Mare 

 than the Cow, Donnarieix having witnessed it at least a score of times 

 in the first-named animal. This authority, however, is of opinion that 

 it is altogether a secondary position ; the foetus at the commencement 

 being in a normal position (lumbo-sacral), and still alive, is retained at 

 the pelvic inlet by its croup, and soon dies ; then obeying the laws of 

 gravity, at a moment when the uterus is relaxed, it turns upside down. 

 And he gives what he considers a proof, in the fact that breeders, in 

 consequence of what he was always telling them — to the effect that in the 

 posterior presentation the Foal does not live for longer than half an hour 

 — -were always successful in bringing the young creature forth alive 

 when they at once resorted to traction in such cases, all informing him 

 that the croup was above and the belly beloio ; while in all the instances 

 in which he had to interfere, the belly was uppermost and the bach doivn- 

 wards. In the latter cases Donnarieix never found the Foal living. 



Saint- Cyr, however, thinks this explanation is not quite satisfactory, 

 that the opinion is too absolute, and that in the Mare, as well as in the 

 Cow, the lumbo-pubic position of the foetus may very well be pjrimary. 

 Donnarieix himself admits as much, from a case recorded by Eochard, 

 in which a living Foal was extracted— an extremely rare event in the 

 Equine species. 



Indications. — The majority of authorities recommend that rotation 

 of the foetus should be practised in this position, so as to convert it 

 into a luvibo-ilial or even a himbo-sacral position ; while others, and 

 notably the French veterinary obstetrists, do not think of changing the 

 position, but readily effect delivery when other causes of dystokia do 

 not complicate it — indeed, they look upon these cases as the easiest 

 to remedy, and rarely requiring more than a quarter of an hour. 



"With the Cow, however, and especially if the Calf is of large size, 

 version is necessary before delivery can be effected ; and this may be 

 also required with the Mare, though the comparatively larger pelvis of 

 this animal may permit delivery without changing the position. In 

 attempting this, the most important matter for attention is the direction 

 of the hind-feet during delivery ; these should be carefully guided 

 through the genital canal until they are external to the vulva, so as 

 to avoid those lacerations and ruptures which are only too readily 

 produced. 



In order to accomplish delivery, the pastern of each hind-limb should 

 be corded ; then the hand must be passed along the flexor tendons 

 until the point of the hock is reached, this part usually jamming 

 against the brim of the pubis ; the hock is now raised, and at the same 

 time the corresponding cord is pulled gently backward and slightly 

 downward, so as to bring the calcis into the vagina ; this operation is 

 to be repeated on the other limb, and then both feet are to be directed 

 by the hand through the canal. This being accomphshed, the cords 

 should then be pulled upwards, so as to raise the croup and facilitate 

 its entrance into the inlet ; after which steady traction, proportioned to 

 the amount of resistance, must be employed during the labour-pains 

 until the young creature is completely extracted. 



