Bystokia 



205 



When the head is greatly distended with "water on 

 the brain " (Fig. 41) , a small incision through the top 

 of tlie head will allow the fluid to escape, and the deliv- 

 ery will be easily accomplished. 



When the fetus cannot be secured in any other man- 

 ner, it is necessary to perform embryotomy. Special 

 knives made for this purpose are a great advantage, 

 but a common pocket-knife can be used, by winding 

 the lower half of the blade with a string; the point 

 of the blade can be used for cnttiiig, and when 

 inserting the knife into | 

 the womb the blade can 

 be protected by the 

 hand, so that it will nol 

 injure the mother. Em- 

 bryotomy is a hard, and 

 often a dlf&cult task 1o 

 perform, but in many 

 cases it is the only hope 

 of saving the dam. In 

 treating cases of diffi- 

 cult labor, the following 

 directions should be ob- 

 served : Be sure to get 

 the fetus in a good position, either with the head and 

 fore legs in the passage, or the hind legs, before attempt- 

 ing to use force in taking it away. After getting the 

 fetus straight, use gentle traction, pulling in a down- 

 ward direction. The amount of force that one person 

 can exert is usually sufficient; in some cases more may 

 be employed, but the practice of tearing the fetus away 



Fig. 41. Head o£ foal with "water on 

 the brain." 



