646 Veterinary Obstetrics 



and the head retained ; in cases of wry neck in the foal in the 

 anterior presentation, dorso-sacral position, when it is impracti- 

 cable to correct the deviation of the head ; or in any case in the 

 mare or cow where deviation of the head cannot be corrected or 

 is not so readily performed as is the amputation of the limb. 



Technic. The larger herbivorous animals are devoid of a 

 clavicle, and the anterior limb is attached to, the thorax by means 

 of the skin and muscles only, and is therefore comparatively easily 

 amputated. Attach a cord to the pastern of the limb, the 

 shoulder of which lies most exposed or is most readily reached, 

 and have one or two assistants exert traction upon it, and 

 draw it out as far as possible with safety to the mother. Insert 

 one hand, armed with the hooked embryotomy knife, well guarded 

 in the palm of the hand and resting against the limb of the fetus 

 up to the top of the scapula or as nearly thereto as can be 

 reached ; press the knife into the skin and subcutaneous tissues 

 and, drawing the hand downward along the leg, slit the skin and 

 subcutaneous tissues freely and deeply from the top of the 

 scapula down to the pastern. I^ay aside the knife and force the 

 fingers between the skin and subjacent tissues of the limb and, 

 while the assistant maintains gentle traction, separate the skin 

 from the parts beneath \y^ forcing the hand or the ball of the 

 thumb through the loose connective tissue until the upper region 

 of the scapula is reached.. 



The separation of the skin from the subjacent parts may re- 

 quire at certain points, like the region of the olecranon or carpus, 

 the aid of the chisel or knife to divide firm bands of connective 

 tissue. The separation of the skin from the subjacent parts re- 

 moves the chief resistance to the tearing of the limb away from 

 the body. Until the skin has been separated from the subjacent 

 tissues over the leg and shoulder, it should be kept intact at the 

 pastern, so that, when traction is applied, the skin as well as the 

 leg is rendered tense and the skinning is greatly favored. When 

 the skinning of the leg and shoulder is completed, the skin is to 

 be divided at the foot by girdling the pastern. The detached 

 skin will be of no further importance, and may be ignored. If 

 required, it may be grasped and corded with a small cord. 



Next in power of resistance are the pectoral muscles. These 

 may be torn asunder by first being separated into small bundles 

 and then torn through with the fingers, between the sternum 



