173 



nooses and then push the forefeet forward into the womb. As soon as 

 the forefeet are pushed forward clear of the brim of the pelvis, traction 

 is made on the hind feet so as to bring the thighs into the passage and 

 prevent the re-entrance of the fore-limbs. If it prove difficult to push 

 back the fore-limbs a noose may be passed around the fetlock of each 

 and the cord drawn through the eye of a rope carrier, by means of 

 which the members may be easily pushed back. 



EMBRYOTOMY. 



This consists in the dissection of the foetus so as to reduce its bulk 

 and allow of its exit through the pelvis. The indications for its adop- 

 tion have been furnished in the foregoing pages. The operation will 

 vary in different cases according to the necessity for the removal of one 

 or more parts in order to secure the requisite reduction in size. Thus 

 it may be needful to remove head and neck, one fore-limb or both, one 

 hind limb or both, to remove different parts of the trunk, or to remove 

 superfluous (monstrous) parts. Some of the simplest operations of em- 

 bryotomy (incision of the head in hydrocephalus, incision of the belly 

 in dropsy) have already been described. It remains to notice the more 

 difBcnlt procedures which can be best undertaken by the skilled 

 anatomist. 



Amputation of the fore limbs. — This may usually be begun on the fet- 

 lock of the limb projecting from the vulva. An embryotomy knife is 

 desirable. This knife consists of a blade with a sharp, slightly hooked 

 point, and one or two rings in the back of the blade large enough to 

 fit on the middle finger, while the blade is protected in the palm of the 

 hand. (See Plate XIY, Fig. 4.) Another form has the blade inserted 

 in a mortise in the handle from which it is pushed out by a movable 

 button when wanted. First place a noose around the fetlock of the 

 limb to be amputated, cut the skin circularly entirely around the fet- 

 lock, then make an incision on the inner side of the limb from the fetlock 

 up to the breast bone, ifext dissect the skin from the limb, from the fet- 

 lock up to the breast bone on the inner side, and as far up on the shoulder 

 blade as possible on the outer side. Finally, cut through the muscles 

 attaching the limb to the breast bone, and employ strong traction on 

 the limb so as to drag out the whole limb, shoulder blade included. The 

 muscles around the upper part of the shoulder blade are easily torn 

 through and need not be cut, even if that were possible. In no case 

 should the fore-limb be removed unless the shoulder blade is taken with 

 it, as that furnishes the greatest obstruction to delivery, above all when 

 it is no longer advanced by the extension of the fore-limb, but is pressed 

 back so as to increase the already thickest posterior portion of the 

 chest. The preservation of the skin from the whole limb is advan- 

 tageous in various ways; it is easier to cut it circularly at the fetlock 

 than at the shoulder; it covers the hand and knife in making the need- 

 ful incisions, thus acting as a protection to the womb; and it affords a 



