DIFFICULT PARTURITION IN COWS. 435 
The most common cases that occur are those where the head is 
turned back on the shoulder or side, and this is known by the 
fore feet presenting, and no farther progress being made. On ex- 
amination, the head is not found in the proper place, the double 
of the neck presenting. 
In this case, the practitioner first fixes two small ropes with 
running eyes on the fore legs, pushes them a little backward, 
and introduces his hand (well rubbed over with soap) along the 
neck. He will first reach the ear, but owing to its slippery state 
he can derive little advantage from it: it can only assist him in 
changing the position of the head, should that be unfavourable. 
His first hold will be the socket of the eye : this will afford 
him a chance of moving the head in such a way that he may get 
his finger into the mouth, and then, by pushing the fore legs back 
with the other hand, or by the help of an assistant, the head can 
be brought into its proper position ; after which, there is nothing 
more to be done than to give the necessary assistance an ordinary 
case requires. 
I never find it requisite to fix ropes upon the under jaw; it will 
bear so very little force. Where much force is necessary (as in 
case of a dead calf), the rope must be put on the neck. 
When it is necessary to take off* a fore leg, pull it out as far 
as possible ; make a circular incision through the skin above the 
knee ; slit it up inside the fore arm as far as you can reach ; divide 
the skin from the muscles with the hand ; put the running eye of 
a stout rope where the circular incision was made, and then, ap- 
plying a little force, the whole leg is brought away, the scapula 
being readily torn from the shoulder, without cutting. Where 
turning is required, which is the case sometimes, I have derived 
much benefit from Dr. Simpson’s plan for the human being, using 
the under leg . — See London and Edinburgh Monthly Journal 
of Medical Science. 
By far the most difficult cases are those where the hind parts 
present, two cases of which I send you : — 
On the 23d of April last I was sent for to attend a cow belonging 
to Mr. Cowan, farmer, at Brians. She had been ill all day. At 
night an examination was made, when the tail and hind quarters 
were found presenting. When I arrived, I was told that for some 
days past the cow had fallen down in the belly considerably. I 
found the calf presenting with the hind legs forwards under the 
belly, the hocks resting down towards the udder, and if I may use 
the expression, on its knees and hocks. 
I passed a small rope round the leg, above the hock/ of which 
an assistant kept a steady hold ; and, by passing my hand along 
the leg, the breech being pressed forward at the same time, sue- 
