486 OBSTETRICAL OPERATIONS. 



in cone-shape, and pushed into the vulva gently, then into the vagina, 

 with a slight rotatory motion, while the animal is not straining; should 

 it strain, the hand must not be pushed on, but wait until the animal is 

 again quiet. In this way the vagina is explored, and if necessary the 

 hand is carried into the uterus, should there be no obstruction. A 

 careful exploration makes the practitioner acquainted with the state of 

 affairs — the condition of the genital canal and the presentation and 

 position of the foetus, if the membranes are ruptured, as they nearly 

 always are — and allows a diagnosis to be formed, from which indica- 

 tions for treatment can be arrived at. 



It should not be necessary to add that all this procedure — much of 

 which has also to be observed in cases of maternal dystokia — ought to 

 be carried out carefully and methodically, and without undue haste ; 

 and to accomplish it satisfactorily a perfect knowledge of the obstetrical 

 anatomy of both mother and foetus — familiar to the hand no less than 

 to the mind — is of the greatest value. 



Mention has already been made of the necessity for employing some 

 bland emollient fluid with which to lubricate the genital canal when 

 this has become dry ; as owing to the "waters" having escaped for 

 some time, the uterus is applied close to the foetus — which may have 

 made some progress towards expulsion — and much manipulation may 

 have already taken place before the arrival of the practitioner. Any 

 oily or mucilaginous fluid will answer the purpose, but perhaps the best 

 of all is what is known as "linseed tea," or " linseed jelly," mixed with 

 some oil — olive to be preferred. When there is not time to prepare this, 

 it has been found very serviceable to inject first a few ounces of oil, 

 then tepid water, and, finally, another quantity of oil. The chief thing 

 to be observed is to inject a sufficiency — say two or three gallons for 

 the larger females, and from a few ounces to a pint for the smaller. 



If the manipulations are long continued, it may be necessary to 

 repeat the injection, and for the Cow or Mare it is most advantageous 

 to introduce a long piece of india-rubber tubing well into the uterus, and 

 inject the fluid through this by putting the nozzle of the syringe into 

 the outer end. When neither syringe nor tubing is available, a bottle 

 may be used, and in this case raising the hind-quarters of the animal 

 will facilitate the introduction of the lubricant. 



With the smaller animals much benefit is often derived from immer- 

 sing the hind-quarters, or even the whole of the body, in warm water 

 for some time, as this tends to relax the parts. 



The expulsive efforts of parturient animals, and especially the Mare, 

 when violent, are generally a great hindrance to the operator in cases of 

 dystokia, and sometimes prevent him from attaining success in delivery. 

 To modify, or partially or completely suspend them for even a short 

 period, may be of the greatest service ; so that various measures have 

 been resorted to in these cases — such as, for the Mare, a twitch on the 

 nose, and for the Cow, pinching the nasal septum, pressing on the loins, 

 or raising the hind-quarters. Causing the Mare to walk on soft sloping 

 ground or in a straw-yard, and not allowing it to stop, has been found 

 to allay the pains for a sufficiently long period to allow what was 

 required to be done. 



The administration of narcotics is also frequently adopted with this 

 object, and anaesthesia by ether or chloroform has been found of great 

 service with the Mare. It is seldom necessary to place the animal in 

 the recumbent position, as complete insensibility is not required — 



