KMliJiViiToMV. 549 



younf( creature as possible. This done, the operator, with a sharp 

 bistoury, incises the body in a circular manner as close to the vulva as 

 is convenient (the labia being kept well away by an assistant) — the 

 incision commencing below, which allows the elongation of the spine ; 

 then the skin and muscles on the sides are divided. When the vertebra,* 

 are reached, the bistoury is passed between them, and as close to the loins 

 as possible ; slight pulling and twisting will then complete the bisection. 



It is a good plan to incise the skin at some distance in front of the 

 place wiiere it is intended to divide the spine, and to separate and push 

 it back over the portion of trunk in the genital canal. When the division 

 of the body is effected, this supertluous skin is pulled over the remain- 

 ing part of the trunk and sewn together, so as to enclose the latter 

 completely, thus preventing injury to the parent during the subsequent 

 mancruvres. 



Should the hind-limbs be doubled under the croup in the passage, or 

 should they still be in the uterus, they ought to be sought for and corded 

 at the pasterns, the cords being given to assistants. Then vigorous 

 pressure is applied to the divided end of the spine in the remaining part 

 of the trunk, while the assistants pull until version is effected ; extraction 

 is afterwards easy. In some cases it is not necessary, nor is it always 

 possible, to secure the hind-limbs before the trunk is pushed into the 

 uterus, version taking place merely by the I'etropulsion ; and sometimes 

 when one limb has been found, there is much difficulty in discovei'ing 

 the other. In such a case, ami when version cannot be effected, the 

 limb which has been secured should be drawn towards the vulva and 

 disarticulated ; this will enable the operator to find the other leg. 



When the ftetus is altogether in the uterus, division of the body is a 

 formidable business, even when the hand can reach it and move about 

 it easily ; it is still more formidable, if not impossible, in large-sized 

 animals when the foetus can scarcely be touched. 



When the foetus is in the iiorizontal dorso-lumbar presentation, 

 Saint-Cyr suggests that the maternal straining, if too violent, should be 

 subdued. The hand, armed with a bistoury, is passed between the 

 uterus and the foetus, and the latter is cut down through the back to 

 the vertebrie ; then the knife is passed into tlie body between the last 

 rib and ilium, and the Hank cut through, another incision upwards 

 reaching the under side of the vertebraj — a hook fixed in the abdominal 

 walls makes this region more tense and easier cut, while it brings it 

 nearer the hand. A cord is now passed around the exposed vertebrjE 

 to bring these closer to the operator, who divides them with a knife 

 or saw. The body of the foetus is then in two portions, the most con- 

 venient of which is first to be extracted, while the other is pushed out 

 of the way. In extraction the crotciiet and cords are employed ; the 

 first portion being removed, the second has to be found, secured, and 

 got away likewise, care being taken to guard the maternal organs from 

 injury by the exposed vertebra?. 



If necessary, the body may be divided into more than two portions at 

 the spine, and the ribs and sternum may also be removed. 



In other presentations the details of the operation may have to be 

 modified, but the principles are the same. 



EviSCER.\TI0N, 



When it is desired to reduce the volume of the thorax or abdomen, 

 or both, the organs they contain aie removed. This procedure is 



