494 OBSTETRICAL OPERATIONS. 



desired attitude, but that these mancBUvres must sometimes be performed 

 when the animal is recumbent. It may even happen that it will be 

 advantageous to place the animal in a recumbent position. Leconte 

 strongly recommends laying it on its sternum, and flexing the fore and 

 hind limbs under the body ; as in this attitude the uterine cavity can be 

 more easily explored, and the necessaiy alterations made in the position 

 of the foetus — the operator lying extended behind the animal. Some 

 obstetrists place the animal on the right or left side, the operator lying 

 on either of his sides, according to the arm he intends to use. 



Throwing down an animal for this purpose is always, however, to be 

 avoided if possible ; and if it is already down, it should either be placed 

 on its sternum or compelled to get up. When the uterus is lying very 

 low in the abdomen, should the latter be extremely pendulous, or when 

 the foetus — as in the Cow — is fixed beneath the brim of the pelvis, it 

 may be found very advantageous to place the parturient creature on its 

 back. 



As for the operator, he must conform his attitude to that of his 

 patient. We have already written on this point when treating of 

 parturition, and we have nothing to add. If the animal is standing and 

 the hind-quarters are raised, and particularly if the obstetrist is not 

 tall — and more especially if the patient is a Mare — the plan adopted with 

 much success by Dickens may be followed. ^ This consists in placing 

 the animal, if the case is likely to be protracted, under an open shed, 

 tying the head to the manger or rack, and supporting the body by two 

 sacks passed under the belly and attached to ropes which pass over a 

 beam above. A partition on the right side, to prevent swerving, is pre- 

 ferred, the assistant being placed on the left side. Immediately behind 

 the animal is put a strong, four-legged wooden cow-crib, which serves 

 many purposes. Firstly, it prevents the Mare backing ; secondly, the 

 operator standing in it is perfectly safe from injury during his manipu- 

 lations, while it gives him a great advantage in the elevation it affords 

 ■ — especially with tall animals ; thirdly, it forms a convenient stage 

 whereon to place cords, instruments, medicinal agents, etc. 



We will briefly notice some of the occasions when these movements 

 have to be effected, though reference may have been made to one or two 

 of them already. 



Extension or Straightening of the Head and Neck. — This is resorted to 

 when these are not in a proper direction, and the foetus must always be 

 pushed into the abdomen in order to carry out the operation. 



The head may be flexed at the occiput, so that the chin is applied to 

 the lower border of the neck, and if it has not entered the pelvis and 

 can be moved somewhat, extension is easily effected by passing the 

 hand into the cavity, insinuating it between the pubis and the forehead 

 of the foetus until the nose is in the hollow palm, with the fingers if 

 possible under the chin, or the thumb in the mouth and the fingers in 

 the intermaxillary space ; then it is lifted sideways above the margin of 

 the pubis, when it can be brought straight into the genital canal by gentle 

 traction. 



When the neck has entered the pelvic inlet, then it is imperative that 

 it be pushed into the abdominal cavity ; before this is attempted, how- 

 ever, cords should be passed round the fore-feet (though these are not 

 to be pulled at first), and another around the neck of the lower jaw or 

 the under part of the head ; this cord the operator holds in one hand or 

 ^ Vettrinarian, vol. xxxiv., p. 260. 



