CLASSIFICATION OP ABNORMAL PRESENTATIONS 



247 



Should the obstetrician attempt extraction uuder such cir- 

 cumstances, it is necessary that the calf is small and the pelvis 

 wide, and that the retained leg is pushed forward as much as 

 possible. 



Nevertheless, it is much better to practice reposition, es- 

 pecially when the calf is small, as adjustments are more readily 

 made in them than in large foetuses. After locating the parts, 

 the fetlock of the retained leg is grasped with the hand and 

 drawn, if possible, as far as the pubis. Now the whole hand 

 is placed against the posterior surface of the tarsus, pushing 



Fig. 43.— One Hind Leg Eetained. 



the leg upwards and repelling the calf at the same time. The 

 hand now glides down along the shin, holding it firmly, flexes 

 the fetlock, and draws it into the pelvic canal, holding the fet- 

 lock, coronet and claws in the hand (fig. 42). The greatest 

 difficulty consists in the fact that the calf's buttocks enter the 

 pelvic inlet with each pain, thus interfering with the retraction 

 of the leg. In order to overcome this and to render reposition 

 possible, the following treatment has been recommended : 



1. Reposition should be performed in the standing cow 

 with her hindquarters raised. 



2. The calf is repelled with the obstetrical crutch. 



