Dystokia 203 
pains are strong and frequent and no progress is 
made in the birth of the young, the probability is 
that something is wrong, and attention to the case 
is demanded. The chances of success are much greater 
when the ease is taken early, before the mother is 
exhausted from severe straining, and before the water 
bags are ruptured and the lubricating fluids allowed to 
escape and the parts to become dry and swollen. 
Difficult labor is more easily treated in cows than 
iu mares, and the results are better. In treating dys- 
tokia, the animal, if large, should be kept in the stand- 
ing position, if possible, as it is easier to handle and 
better results follow. In many eases the animal will not 
stand. The operator should be clad in sleeveless cloth- 
ing that will not be injured by being soiled. The 
arms should be rubbed with carbolized oil, one part of 
carbolie acid to thirty parts of oil; lacking this, any 
clean oil will do, or soap and water may be used. 
The first thing to be determined is the position of 
the fetus, called the “presentation.” The case may be 
a normal presentation, a hind-leg presentation, etc. 
After determining this point, the fetus should be 
gotten into the normal presentation, if possible. If 
this is not feasible, a hind-leg presentation should be 
secured. Failing in both of these, it is usually neces- 
sary to resort to embryotomy, that is, to eut the 
fetus up and take it away in pieces. It is impossible 
to turn a fetus of any reasonable size end for end 
in the uterus. One of the most frequent abnormal 
positions is with the head and fore leg presented and 
one fore leg doubled back. In this case, double a 
