192 DISEASES OP CATTLE. 



OUTWARD DIRECTION. OF THE STIFLES — ABDUCTION OF HIND LIMBS. 



As an obstacle to parturition, this is rare in cows. It is most likely 

 to take place in cows with narrow hip bones, and when the service 

 has been made by a bull having great breadth across the quarter. 

 The calf, taking after the sire, presents an obstacle to calving in the 

 breadth of its quarters, and if at the same time the toes and stifles 

 -are turned excessively outward and the hocks inward the combined 

 breadth of the hip bones above and the stifles below may be so great 

 that the pelvis will not easily admit them. After the fore feet, head, 

 and shoulders have all passed out through the vulva, further progress 

 suddenly and unaccountably ceases, and some dragging on the parts 

 already delivered does not serve to bring away the hind parts. The 

 oiled hand introduced along the side of the calf will discover the 

 obstacle in the stifle joints turned directly outward and projecting 

 on each side beyond the bones which circumscribe laterally the front 

 entrance of the pelvis. The evident need is to turn the stifles inward, 

 and this may be attempted by the hand introduced by the side of the 

 calf, which is meanwhile rotated gently on its own axis to favor the 

 change of position. To correct the deviation of the hind limb is, how- 

 ever, very difficult, as the limbs themselves are out of reach and can 

 not be used as levers to assist. If nothing can be done by pushing 

 back the body of the calf and rotating it and by pressure by the hand 

 in the passages, the only resort appears to be to skin the calf from 

 the shoulder back, cut it in two as far back as can be reached, then 

 push the buttocks well forward into the womb, bring up the hind 

 feet, and so deliver. 



THE HIND LIMBS EXCESSIVELY BENT ON THE BODY AND ENGAGED IN 



THE PELVIS. 



In this case the presentation is apparently a normal anterior one; 

 fore limbs and head advance naturally and the parturition proceeds 

 until half the chest has passed through the external passages, when 

 suddenly progress ceases and no force will secure farther advance. 

 An examination with oiled hand detects the presence in the passages 

 of the hind feet and usually the hind legs up to above the hocks. 

 (PI. XVII, fig. 1.) 



The indications for treatment are to return the hind limbs into the 

 body of the womb. If they have not advanced too far into the pelvis, 

 this may be done as follows : A rope with running noose is passed over 

 each hind foot and drawn tight around the lower part of the hock; 

 the ropes are then passed through the two rings- in the small end of 

 the rotating instrument (PI. XX, fig. 5) which is slid into the passages 

 until it reaches the hocks, when the ropes, drawn tight, are tied round 

 the handle of the instrument. Then in the intervals between the 

 pains the hocks are pushed forcibly back into the womb. If by this 



