200 DISEASES OF THE HOBSE. 



above rather than at one side, and is to be secured and brought for- 

 ward in a similar manner. (Plate XVIII, fig. 2.) If a rope can be 

 passed around the neck it- will prove most effectual, as it naturally 

 slides nearer to the head as the neck is straightened and ends by 

 bringing the head within easy reach. 



Hind feet engaged in pelvis. — In this case fore limbs and head 

 present naturally, but the hind limbs bent forward from the hip and 

 the loins arched allow the hind feet also to enter the. passages, and 

 the further labor advances the more firmly does the body of the foal 

 become wedged into the pelvis (Plate XVII, fig. 2.) The condition 

 is to be recognized by introducing the oiled hand along the belly of 

 the fetus, when the hind feet will be felt advancing. An attempt 

 should at once be made to push them back, one after the other, over 

 the brim of the pelvis. Failing in this, the mare may be turned on 

 her back, head downhill, and the attempt renewed. If it is possible 

 to introduce a straight rope carrier, a noose passed through this may 

 be put on the fetlock and the repulsion thereby made more effective^ 

 In case of continued failure the anterior presenting part of the body 

 may be skinned and cut off as far back toward the pelvis as possible 

 . (see "Embryotomy") ; then nooses are placed on the hind fetlocks 

 and traction is made upon these while the quarters are pushed back 

 into the womb. Then the remaining portion is brought away by the 

 posterior presentation. 



Anteriok presentation with back turned to one side. — ^The 

 diameter of the axis of the foal, like that of the pelvic passages, is 

 from above downward, and when the fetus enters the pelvis with 

 this greatest diameter engaged transversely or in the narrow diame- 

 ter of the pelvis, parturition is rendered difficult or impossible. In 

 such a case the pasterns and head may be noosed, and the passages 

 and engaged portion of the foal freely lubricated with lard, the 

 limbs may be crossed over each other and the head, and a movement 

 of rotation effected in the fetus until its face and back are turned 

 up toward the croup of the mother; then parturition becomeisl 

 natural. 



Back op foal turned to floor of pelvis. — In a roomy mare this 

 is not an insuperable obstacle to parturition, yet it may seriously 

 impede it, by reason of the curvature of the body of the foal being 

 opposite to that of the passages, and the head and withers being 

 liable to arrest against the border of the pelvis. Lubrication of the 

 passage with lard and traction of the limbs and head will usually 

 suffice with or without the turning of the mare on her back. 



In obstinate cases two other resorts are open: First, to turn the 

 foal, pushing back the fore parts and bringing up the hind so as to 

 make a posterior presentation, and, second, the amputation of the 

 fore limbs, after which extraction will usually be easy. 



