L40 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICY. 
foetus was a mal-formed one. The stifle joint lay forward, high up 
against the posterior ribs, and was held firmly there by the great 
contraction of the skin over the parts. The extensor muscles un- 
derneath were very much shortened. The tibia was also bent un- 
usually backwards, as the os calcis came in contact almost with the 
hip joint. The muscles here were also in the same state of contrac- 
tion and shortening as those attached to the patella, &c. The part 
of the limb below the hock w'as nearly in its natural position, being 
only a little more flexed upon the tibia than usual. The stifle and 
hock joints were also firmly held together in their altered position 
by the shortening of some and lengthening of others of the liga- 
ments of the joints ; and when the muscles were cut through, the 
joints could not be brought to their natural positions without rup- 
turing some of the ligaments. Both hind legs were in this con- 
dition. 
Observations . — I never met with a similar case to the foregoing. 
In consequence of the adhesions of the stifles to the body, it is very 
evident that by pulling at the legs we not only drew the stifles 
into the pelvis, but the breech also, thus causing the former forcibly 
to abut against the pelvis, there not being sufficient room, without 
using excessive force, for the stifles to be drawn out. Now, here 
I would say, that this case, like many others, teaches us the lesson 
which Dr. Blundell so repeatedly urges upon his pupils, “ that all 
force is to be exploded from midwifery and I am confident, 
more and more every year, from my own experience, that, although 
we are justified in using a greater degree of force in our patients 
than accoucheurs are with theirs, yet there is a certain boundary 
which we ought to be careful not to overstep ; for whenever we 
find, as I have before stated, that moderate force will not answer 
our purpose, we ought to make another strict examination, to 
ascertain the cause why we are not able to extract the foetus, and 
then we shall generally succeed ; and confident I am, that although 
some of our patients most miraculously recover after great violence 
has been used, the greater number of them die in a short time after, 
or else linger out a most miserable existence. 
However, to return — If ever we should meet with a similar case 
to the above, it will most decidedly become our duty to separate 
the contractions between the stifle and the body of the femur, and 
then force the breech forward, while our assistant at the same time 
is pulling at the legs: if we cannot succeed in this way, we must 
disarticulate the limbs at the hip joints, and remove them as before 
described. 
