648 Veterinary Obstetrics 



In the ventral presentation, the subcutaneous removal of both 

 anterior limbs greatly facilitates version, and reduces to a mini- 

 mum the dangers of injuries to the titer us during version, owing 

 to a foot being caught in its walls. 



e. Amputation at the Humero-Radial Articulation. Am- 

 putation at this point is rarely desirable, but may at times 

 be necessary in the mare in order to- remove an anterior limb 

 when it is impossible, on account of the position, to reach the 

 shoulder. 



Technic. Attach a cord to the pastern, as in the preceding, 

 and have an assistant render the leg tense by exerting moderate 

 traction. Introduce the hand, armed with the embryotomy 

 knife, carefully concealed in the palm, and girdle the skin around 

 the articulation. Passing above the head of the olecranon on the 

 posterior side, divide the attachment of the anconean grou'p of 

 muscles by a cut directed forward. Then divide transversely, as 

 far as possible, the muscles and ligaments passing over the artic- 

 ulation. Rotate the limb forcibly on its long axis while strong 

 traction is maintained, and rupture the remaining ligaments until 

 the limb is completely detached and comes away. 



In cases of limited room, it may sometimes be easier to detach 

 the skin of the limb from the pastern up to the articulation, as 

 in the operation for the subcutaneous amputation of the limb at 

 the shoulder, as described above. By this plan the skin is sepa- 

 rated up to the olecranon, the muscles divided transversely, and 

 the operation otherwise carried out as in the preceding para- 

 graph. 



/. Detruncation in the Anterior Presentation. When 

 a fetus in the anterior presentation has one or both pos- 

 terior limbs deviated forward beneath its body, and the feet en- 

 gaged against or in the pelvis, it may be necessary or advisable 

 in the mare, and possibly rarely in the cow, that the trunk of the 

 fetus be divided in order to bring about delivery without serious 

 or fatal injury to the mother. 



Technic. Secure the two hind feet by means of cords. Ap- 

 ply cords to the two anterior limbs and head, and have one or 

 two assistants draw the anterior part of the fetus as far out as is 

 practicable and safe. Then girdle the fetal body, immediately 

 against the maternal vulva, by making an incision through the 



