238 OBSTETRICS. 



to the shoulder. Do the dissecting with one hand, while the other 

 pulls on the skin outside. The reasons for not removing the skin 

 are plain. The soft parts are easily cut and torn when skin is 

 off. The skin gives a strong object to pull by and protects the 

 parts of the mother from bones. It also keeps the soft parts of 

 the foetus from rolling up when pressed against the parts of the 

 mother; and finally a dissection is more easily made under than 

 outside the skin. 



Removing the head. — Bring head outside vulva if possible, 

 then cut the skin around the neck, back of the ears and dissect 

 the skin loose from the muscles by the hand or by a thin spud, 

 using the knife to cut the connective tissue bands that interfere, 

 as far as the operator can reach. Then cut the cord on top of 

 the neck that supports the head, and also the muscles around the 

 vertebrae. Strong pulling and twisting on the head will usually 

 bring away the head and neck, leaving a quantity of skin to cover 

 remaining vertabrae and to assist in pulling. 



Removal of the hind limbs. — This is done on the same general 

 principle. Incision around the ankle, thence up on the inside of 

 the limb to the articulation between the femur and the pelvis. 

 Cut across this joint on the inside, in order to sever the ligament 

 which holds the femur strongly to the pelvis. Then by strong 

 pulling and twisting the limb can be torn loose at this joint. 



It is rarely necessary to remove both hind legs. With one 

 out of the way the other can usually be straightened or the body 

 of the foetus removed with the other straightened forward into 

 the uterus. 



Caesarian section. — Removal of the foetus through the flank 

 or median line of the belly is done sometimes, but only as a last 

 resort, more commonly and successfully done with cows and sows 

 than mares. This should only be attempted by a medical expert 

 unless the plan is to save only the foetus. In the latter case the 

 work must be done rapidly. 



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