VETERINARY OBSTETRICY. 675 
that it became drawn out a little, and by perseverance we forced it 
quite out : the other fore limb we served the same way. 
Having done so, we tried if the remaining portion would now 
come away, but found it almost as firm as ever ; though by dint of 
hard labour and excessive force we got the head out. I now found 
that the foetus was slightly emphysematous. I therefore split up 
the neck, so as to allow of any air to escape. We now had got it 
out as far as the thorax, but here it became firmly fixed. 
I next made an incision between the anterior ribs, and re- 
moved the contents of the thorax and abdomen, after which I se- 
parated the ribs from the body. We then drew the spine out as 
far as the loins, and separated it by dividing the lumbar vertebrae. 
I next secured the skin on the end of the spine, and pushed the 
remainder of the foetus in again, thinking to lay hold of the hind 
feet, and so extract the hind parts ; but I found that I could not 
feel the legs, nor, indeed, any of the hind quarters ; and I was fear- 
ful the uterus was ruptured, and that it was gone out of our reach, 
amongst the bowels. I consequently left her to her fate. She fed 
very well throughout the day, and appeared much better than 
could have been expected. The next day she was worse, and was 
moaning a good deal, and on the third day it was thought prudent 
to destroy her. I am sorry to say that she was not examined. I 
was five hours in attempting the removal of this foetus, and I never 
wish to be engaged in such another laborious affair. In this case 
neither the os uteri, vagina, nor sacro-ischiatic ligaments appeared to 
give way naturally, during the long time we were trying to extract 
the calf : it was all caused by force alone. I have no doubt that 
her uterus was ruptured. 
Natural Presentation. 
In the mare and the cow it is well known that the natural pre- 
sentation is with the fore feet out, and the head resting upon them 
about the knees. In all cases — provided the head is not unusu- 
ally enlarged, the body emphysematous, the hips of great size, and 
there is no malformation or obstruction existing — we have nothing 
more to do than to use the requisite force, which sometimes must 
be rather severe. In case the foetus cannot be extracted by pulling 
at the legs, we must in the first instance fasten a cord around the 
neck, and this we must pull at simultaneously with cords attached 
to the legs ; or we may tie a cord around the lower jaw, and, if 
possible, have a portion of the skin within the noose, whereby we 
will have more firm hold, and is not so liable to break off. I may 
observe, in passing, that it is astonishing how soon the teeth that 
have been loosened will become fastened again, or even if the 
