ABXORMAL POSTERIOR PRESENTATIONS. 465 



as near the buttock as he can ; this elevates the foot and brings it 

 nearer. As the hibour-pains usually push the foetus too near the pubis, 

 it must be thrust forward again by acting more particularly on the 

 point of the hock, using it as a kind of propeller. When sullicient space 

 has been gained, the hand descends along the cannon bone and grasps 

 the front of the foot — the thumb and index-finger meeting round the 

 coronet, so that the toe is in the palm of the hand ; in this way the 

 pastern and fetlock are forcibly flexed, when, by a vigorous effort — 

 seconded, if need be, by the cord placed round it — the foot is raised 

 above the pelvic brim, brought into the vagina, and the leg extended — 

 an easy operation, generally. With the Foal, however, it sometimes 

 happens that, owing to the length of the limbs, the calcis presses against 

 the sacrum of the mother while the foot jams on the pubis. In such 

 cases the pastern-cord is most useful, as the operator may allow the 

 foot to pass from his hand, and press the point of the hock towards the 

 uterus ; while an assistant pulls at the cord witli such an amount of force, 

 and at such times, as the obstetrist may order. The other limb is to be 

 brought back in the same way. 



Cartwright mentions that, in those cases in which the limb cannot be 

 sufliciently extended backwards, the hock should be drawn as far as 

 possible into the passage, and the tendon of the flexor metatarsi divided 

 above its point of bifurcation, in front and at the upper part of the 

 joint ; this allows greater mobility. If the foetus is dead, of course 

 there can be no objection to this section ; if alive, it will require con- 

 sideration. 



This is the method to be recommended in every case; and it will very 

 often be attended with success, even in the Mare, when the fci'tus is not 

 too firmly fixed in the pelvis, and can be pushed into the uterus. But 

 it frequently happens that retropulsion is not possible ; the hind-feet 

 cannot be reached, and delivery cannot be accomplished in the way in- 

 dicated. We must then adopt other methods applicable to the Mare 

 and Cow. 



With the Mare, when the fa-tus is impacted in the pelvis, so that it 

 cannot be moved forward, it may be presumed that it no longer lives, 

 or that it will perish before delivery is completed. There can be no 

 objection, then, in resorting to embryotomy, so as to relieve the Mare 

 as quickly as possible. 



The hind-limbs of the foetus may be amputated either at the stifle or 

 the hock — some authorities recommend the former, others the latter; 

 while others, again, advise excision at the coxo-femoral articulations. 

 Extraction of the fcetus has been effected after amputation in the three 

 regions, but preference is generally given to division at the hock. This 

 is effected by drawing the joint as far into the vagina as possible, either 

 by the hand or a cord passed round the part (Fig. 141); if it can be 

 drawn beyond the vulva, all the better, but this requires much force. 

 The joint is then disarticulated, and the separated portion of the hmb 

 withdrawn from the passage. The other leg being served in the same 

 way, deliveiy can be completed in the ordinary manner — the obstacle 

 being now removed. 



" Now and then," as Cartwright remarks, " we are not able to bring 

 the legs straight into the passage, but have to get away the fa'tus by 

 means of cords around the hock or hocks, with one or both of the legs 

 doubled forward against the thigh. In these cases it will be advisable to 



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