Diseases of the Fetal Membranes and Umbilic Cord 743 



expelled. In the cow, the umbilic cord habitually ruptures 

 while the calf is passing through the pelvic canal, and yet it is 

 born as safely as is the foal, in which the cord usually does not 

 rupture until after the complete expulsion of the fetus. 



As compared with the child, the umbilic cord in all domestic 

 animals is short, and consequently does not tend to protrude 

 through the vagina in advance of the fetus or to become en- 

 tangled about the fetal neck or extremities. In very rare cases 

 the cord has been found entangled about the neck, limbs or 

 body of the fetus, but this has apparently never acquired any 

 great significance. 



Even if the cord should become entangled about the fetus, it 

 usually offers no important impediment to parturition, because 

 it is comparatively easily ruptured in any of the domestic ani- 

 mals, so that any powerful expulsive effort would quickly cause 

 it to part. The chief danger is the strangling of the fetus 

 through compression of the cord. When the cord is found en- 

 circling a part in a manner to cause its compression, the ob- 

 stetrist should obviate the danger as far as possible, by disen- 

 tangling it or hastening delivery, according to the circumstances. 



