DYSTOKJA FROM THE STERNO-ABDOMIXAL PRESENT A TIOX. »79 



appears ; it may be there are two — either anterior or posterior, or one of 

 each; or three — a fore and two hind, or two fore and one hind. In 

 otlier instances, again, there is nothing of the foetus to be found in the 

 genital canal. 



It is only by a careful examination of the presenting limbs — their 

 conformation, number, direction, and degree of projection — that the 

 practitioner can decide as to the position of the fcetus ; though those 

 parts of the body accessible to the hand will supply valuable informa- 

 tion as to whether the limbs belong to one or more foetuses or to a 

 monstrosity ; while the position of the head should be ascertained if 

 possible, in order to decide which kind of version is most likely to be 

 successful. 



When the limbs are not visible, they may be found in the vagina or 

 at the inlet, where they are usually crossed ; though it sometimes 

 happens — especially with the Mare — that the arm extended into the 



Fig. 148. 

 Sterno-Abdominal Pbksentatiox, Head and Fket encagkd : Foal. 



uterus as far as possible, can touch nothing, even with the tips of the 

 fingers, except the belly or sternum of the fcetus ; or pushing the hand 

 obliquely to one side of the cavity, the stifles may be felt, and on the 

 other side the elbows. This may be all that can be discovered of the 

 position, owing to the foetus being curved and the limbs and neck bent 

 in different directions ; so that the difliculty in arriving at a correct 

 notion as to the state of affairs is much greater than in the dorso- 

 lumbar presentation. In the Cow, however, owing to the wider 

 abdomen, the fa?tus being also shorter, the latter is nearer the inlet, and 

 thei'efore more accessible to the hand. 



It is generally admitted that this presentation is one of the most 

 diflicult and serious the obstetrist can meet with ; though when the 

 limbs can be seized it is not, as a rule, so troublesome as the dorso- 

 lumbar presentation. In order to effect deliver)-, the presentation must 

 be modified, and it is often most convenient to resort to posterior 

 version and bring the hind-limbs into the genital canal The two fore- 



