138 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICY. 
After the legs are in a right position, we must attempt the re- 
moval of the foetus either with or without cords, as we think pro- 
per ; and, previous to commencing pulling, we should be careful 
in having all the parts well oiled, seeing that we shall be pulling 
against the natural position of the hair. I have also known, when 
the passage has been much swollen, and there has been a good 
deal of straining and difficulty in forcing the foetus back and get- 
ting the legs up, for ropes to be fastened to the hind legs of the 
cow and carried over beams above her, whereby the hinder parts 
of the cow have been drawn up and elevated, by which means the 
foetus has fallen more into the abdomen, and has not forced so 
much against the passage ; the consequence has been the more 
readily getting up of the legs. 
Now and then, from the hind quarters being very large, the 
foetus will not pass at the hips. In such cases it will be advisable 
to draw one side out of the pelvis a little in advance of the other, 
so as to avoid the great femoral trochanters passing simultaneously. 
Some have advised for this purpose that we should divide the 
symphysis pubis ; but I am inclined to think that this will be of 
little use ; for, when it is done, the pelvic bones at the symphysis 
will still be in apposition. To be of any service, one of the pelvic 
bones at the symphysis must be in advance of the other ; and be- 
fore which can take place the fibro-cartilaginous substance that 
exists at the sacro-iliac synchondrosis must either be cut through 
or violently torn asunder, which, I fancy, is not easily done. 
We shall also find sometimes, after we have extracted the hinder 
parts, that the foetus will be immoveably fixed at about the centre 
of the body : this arises from the abdominal viscera being forced 
back into the anterior part of the abdomen. In such cases we 
have nothing more to do than to make an incision into the abdo- 
men, and remove its contents. 
One hind Leg in one of the Horns of the Uterus. 
I was once called in to attend on a cow where symptoms of 
parturition had commenced. It was a breech presentation. The 
os uteri was but partially dilated ; but by gentle manipulations it 
became tolerably expanded. After a good deal of time and labour 
had been expended we were only enabled to get one of the hind 
legs up, and for a long time after we could not positively decide 
whereabouts the other limb was, for we could not find it. At length 
it was found, and through great exertion was brought into its pro- 
per situation, and the calf extracted. In the course of the day the 
cow died. 
What rendered this case so difficult was, that the main bulk of 
