KMBllVoTuMY. 547 



Meyer recoiiimeiuls that the circular incision on the cannon be not 

 made until the skin is detached above, as this facilitates avulsion. 



It is well to divide as many of the nmscles uniting the limb to the 

 chest as possible, and also to apply counter-extension by means of the 

 arm or crutch placed a;^'ainst the chest or opposite shoulder of tlie futus ; 

 this also spares the mother much of the pain and exhaustion attending 

 extraction. 



Amputation of tlie entire fore-limb, including' the scapula, is a very 

 useful operation in the most serious cases of dystokia ; but there some- 

 times occur instances in which the whole leg need not be excised — as 

 when the logs are an obstacle rather from their lengtli than their 

 volume. This happens, as has been described, in the abdominal pre- 

 sentation of the fcctus, when the limbs so often render version dillicult 

 — all of them being perhaps in the genital canal, frona which they cannot 

 be advanced or pushed back. In these circumstances, disarticulation 

 of the limbs at the knee or elbow joints is often practised — the latter 

 being generally preferred ; though it must be remembered that excision 

 at this part can be but of limited value, and, in fact, is only useful in 

 the presentation just alluded to, because it does not give so much room 

 as removal of the scapula and humerus. 



In the abdominal presentation with four legs in the vagina, Don- 

 narieix lays down the following procedure : Three pieces of supple twine 

 are got ready, as well as a strong cord. With the twine the pasterns of 

 three of the limbs are firmly bound, while the cord is fixed on the limb 

 which is to be detached, and confided to five assistants, who pull at the 

 cord while the other limbs are pushed towards the uterus. The knee, 

 then the forearm appear, and the lips of the vulva being kept widely 

 separated, the operator makes a circular incision throu^'h the skin at 

 this part ; traction is again applied, tlie nmscles tear, and gradually the 

 joint is reached. Tlie tendons and ligaments are cut, and the leg being 

 twisted as it is pulled out, another cut of the knife finally removes it. 



With the Sheep or Goat, amputation of the fore-limbs of the foetus is 

 very rarely indeed required, though, if necessary, it can be effected. 

 The same remark applies to the Bitch and Cat. 



Amputation of the Hind-Limbs. 



When the fcctus makes a posterior presentation, and a hind-limb 

 appears at the vulva, it may be necessary to amputate this limb ; or 

 with the hind-limbs Hexed at the hocks, and so firmly wedged in the 

 canal that they cannot be extended backwards, nor yet sufliciently bent 

 to permit delivery — which is far from being rare in the Mare — these 

 joints are disarticulated. 



In the latter case, it is accomplished by passing a running noose 

 round each leg, above the hock, and tying it firmly there. Powerful 

 traction made on one of the cords by four or five assistants, will bring 

 the point of one of the hocks to the vulva, the lips of which are sepa- 

 rated, while the operator divides the gastrocnemii tendons and the 

 lateral ligaments of the joint, so as to produce complete disarticulation. 

 The tibia is then pushed into the vagina, the other limb is amputated 

 in the same way, and birth is accomplished by pulling at both cords, 

 which remain attached to the lower end of the leg-bone. 



When the limbs are completely retained in the uterus at this presen- 

 tation, the procedure recommended at pp. 171 and 517 must be adopted. 

 The following procedure has also been recommended : A long incision is 



