516 A LECTURE ON THE DISEASES INCIDENTAL TO 
through the vaginal passage. Its course is to be guided by 
the hand of the person who has returned the legs, until it is 
fixed against the brisket, when the assistant should, by constant 
pressure, resist the throes of the parent, by which means the 
head of the calf will most commonly be returned, if not to its 
natural position, sufficiently forward to enable the operator 
readily to place it in such ; when, by the use of the head and 
muzzle noose, and the appliance of gentle traction, delivery may 
be speedily effected. With the aid of these mechanical con- 
trivances I have, in numerous instances, succeeded in extracting 
calves, when in the position described, far more speedily, and 
with considerably less risk of injury to the cow, than could pos- 
sibly be insured by the usual method of affixing a hook in the 
orbit, and securing the lower jaw. 
A presentation of one fore-leg is also of common occurrence; 
in such a case attach a cord to the protruding leg, push it back 
within the uterus, and proceed in the same manner to secure 
the other leg ; again return the foetus, and endeavour to get up 
the head, to which, if required, affix the noose before alluded 
to, when the delivery may be. readily accomplished, and with 
every prospect of bringing forth a live calf. 
The head of the foetus is sometimes forced under the brim of 
the pelvis, the two fore-legs being atone presented. Secure 
the legs in the manner before described, and then return them 
within the uterus ; in so doing, the head will commonly regain 
its proper position, and the calf will generally be extracted with 
less difficulty than would be imagined. 
At other times the head is presented, the legs being retained 
within the uterus. The difficulty attendant on such a case 
greatly depends on the time the cow has been in labour, and 
the advancement the head has made through the vaginal pas- 
sage. If assistance is speedily rendered, after fixing a cord to 
the lower jaw, the head may be returned within the uterus, the 
legs got into their proper position, and the calf readily brought 
away; but, on the contrary, should the cow have been some 
time in trouble, and the head of the calf be completely born, 
no chance of saving the life of the latter then remains, as it will 
be quite impossible to return the head within the womb, and 
certain destruction to the parent to bring it away in its present 
position. No time, therefore, should be lost in reflecting back 
the skin, and removing the head with as much of the neck as 
possible. This being effected, attach a cord to the projecting 
skin, push back the foetus, and, having secured the legs, by a 
steady and gentle traction proceed with the delivery. 
A presentation of the head and one fore-leg is occasionally 
to be met with, the other leg being forced back towards the 
