674 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICY. 
become contracted, but especially the ligaments ; in such cases as 
these, I am led to believe that it will be very injudicious to use 
much force, or even to attempt removal. Either the Caesarian 
operation must be performed, or the work must be left to nature. 
I will give a case in illustration. 
Improper interference in the extraction of a Calf. 
Some time ago I was sent for, about eleven o’clock at night, to 
extract a calf from a cow belonging to a farmer. When I ar- 
rived, I found that only one of the fore feet was in the passage, 
and that the waters had escaped. The other leg could not be 
found, and the head they were unable to bring forward. On ex- 
amination, I found that the calf lay upon its back, and the missing 
fore leg was lying on its side. The head was forced back, lying 
on its breast. I now ascertained that the cow was not at her full 
time by about six weeks, and also that there was not the least en- 
largement of the udder, or any sinking of the hips, or preparation 
in the vagina for such an act ; but in consequence of the “ water- 
bag” being punctured, and a leg being in the passage, it was 
thought by the owner prudent to try to remove it, and I was 
strongly urged to attempt its removal. From knowing what great 
relaxation takes place in the os uteri, I was led to believe that a 
similar one would take place in the vagina and sacro-iliac liga- 
ments during the time of extraction, and this induced me to as- 
certain whether it was so or not. 
I found that the os uteri was not sufficiently dilated at present 
to admit of the foetus passing ; but we hoped that it would be- 
come widened as we applied gradual and moderate force. With 
little difficulty I reached the other fore leg, and brought it into the 
passage. I also found that the owner had tied a cord around the 
lower jaw, but which had, by pulling, broken off. I now inserted 
a hook into one of the orbits, which enabled me to bring the head 
a little more forward ; but, by pulling at it, it almost came out 
through the bones of the face, merely holding by a portion of skin. 
I next put another hook into the other orbit, and secured cords to 
the legs, and then four or five of us pulled at them. We were 
not, however, able to draw the calf out more than a very little, 
and only just enough to enable us to see the nose. I then was 
determined on embryotomy, and had one of the legs tolerably 
forcibly drawn at; but even it could not be forced out above half 
way up to the knee, so impacted were the parts. I then cut the 
skin through, round the leg, about four inches below the knee, and 
split the skin up a little on the side. By pulling at the leg I found 
