6i8 Veterinary Obstetrics 



by the operator for special reasons, the position of the recumbent 

 animal is highly important. 



If, for instance, an animal is recumbent and there is a deviation 

 of the fetal head toward the left side of the mother, it would be 

 highly unfavorable for the operator, should the mother lie upon 

 her left side, because the weight of the fetal body would thus be 

 thrown uponits head. This would necessitate lifting the fetal body 

 in order to correct the deviation of the head and bring it into the 

 proper position. If the patient lay upon her right side instead, the 

 fetal head would rest upon its body and it would be more readily 

 extended. Hence in many instances it is desirable to change the 

 attitude of the recumbent animal or even to cast the patient in 

 order to effect certain manipulations or changes of position. Us- 

 ually, when an animal is recumbent, she should be placed with her 

 hind parts elevated, in order that the fetus may drop away forward 

 toward the diaphragm, and afford increased room and facility 

 for repulsion, changes in position or other desired operations. 

 It is important generally that the recumbent animal should lie 

 prone upon her side with all her limbs free and extended. 



It is very disadvantageous to the operator for the patient to 

 lie upon her sternum, since this position causes undue pressure 

 upon the abdomen and crowds the gravid uterus against or into 

 the pelvis so tightly as to render repulsion well nigh impossible, 

 and any other changes in the position of the fetus or the correc- 

 tion of any deviation of an extremity very difficult. 



In order to elevate the hind quarters of a recumbent animal, 

 extra bedding may be placed beneath the posterior parts to any 

 degree desired. Sometimes advantage may be taken of sloping 

 ground, like a terrace, and we have placed such an animal in a 

 door- way where the floor within was higher than the ground with- 

 out. Padding the door well with straw, the cow is placed with 

 her head outward and her buttocks in the stable, at a higher 

 elevation. 



The elevation of the posterior parts may also be brought about 

 by placing the recumbent animal upon a .heavy door or on a 

 platform of heavy boards, and raising that portion of the door or 

 platform upon which the posterior portion of her body rests, sup- 

 port it by means of blocks placed underneath. Usually, the 

 greater the elevation of the posterior parts of the recumbent ani- 



