ABNORMAL POSTERIOR PRESEXTATIOXS. 471 



body. Notwithstanding this diminution in the volume of the foetus, 

 deUvery was still impossible ; the other limb was torn away in a similar 

 manner, after which a crotchet was lixed in each cotyloid cavity, and 

 the fu?tus was then easily extracted. In addition to the malpresenta- 

 tion, the young creature was atTected with hydrocephalus. 



The use of sharj) crotchets in such cases is always attended with 

 risk ; should they slip during traction, or not be carefully implanted in 

 the fa>tus, they may do great, if not fatal, injury to the mother. 



To escape the dangers which accompany the use of the crotchets in 

 this way, another method has been proposed and practised by many 

 veterinary obstetrists. The perineal region of the foetus is largely in- 

 cised, and the hand, armed with a crotchet, is passed into the pelvis 

 by this opening, the crotchet being fixed either in front of the symphysis 

 pubis, on one of the branches of the ilium, or, which is perhaps better, 

 in one of the oval foramina. Two crotchets — one for each side — may 

 be used. By this method, a more solid hold is obtained, and greater 

 force can be easily exerted. 



Cartwright observes : "In those cases in which we are unable to 

 extract by the breech, through not getting the legs up straight by lay- 

 ing hold of the feet, or when bent at the hocks, we should make pretty 

 free incisions through the skin about the ilio-femoral articulations or 

 rump, and afterwards cut or tear the muscles around these asunder, and 

 then we can secure cords around the iliac processes and coccygeal bones, 

 and hooks against the edge of the obturator foramen, by which means 

 we can remove the pelvic and coccygeal bones ; and having done so, we 

 can apply a cord around the head of the thigh-bones and pull them 

 out. We must next make an incision into the abdomen and remove 

 the viscera, as they are sometimes pushed forward, and prevent our 

 removing the other parts of the foetus. Then we must either pass 

 cords around the skin that surrounds the thigh, or insert hooks into 

 the skin, and draw the remainder of the foetus out with its hind-legs 

 under its belly, and so complete extraction." 



RuetT proposes to detach the coxte from the sacrum, by operating in 

 the pelvis of the fa-tus, and afterwards to extract the hind-limbs thus 

 separated from the trunk. Others recommend symphyseotomy — an 

 operation to be described hereafter. 



When the ftetus is in the lumbo-pubic position, the same obstacles 

 are encountered. Very often the hind- limbs are bent at the hocks, and 

 these wedge against the floor of the sacrum. The same order of 

 mancDuvres has to be adopted. Retropulsion allows space to flex the 

 upper joints, then extend the limbs. When extraction cannot be 

 accomplished with the animal in a standing attitude, it should be 

 placed on its back. When success does not attend the ordinary mani- 

 pulations, then the hind-limbs of the foetus must be disarticulated at 

 the hocks, or higher. 



In all manoeuvres of this kind, great care must be exercised in pre- 

 venting injur}' to the maternal organs by the feet of the young creature, 

 or the jagged ends of bones ; and while traction is being employed, the 

 hand of the operator should be busy guiding these parts through the 

 genital passage. 



The smaller animals — Bitch, Sow, Ewe — may be delivered by the 

 forceps, small crotchet, or the tube-noose to be hereafter described. 

 The Caesarian section may also, in extreme cases, be resorted to with 

 the Bitch and Sow. 



