374 
ON PARTURITION IN THE COW. 
die into the orbit on the other side, by which means we got the 
nose of the calf into the passage, where it became firmly impacted. 
We then got the blunt hook fastened into various places, by 
which means we drew the calf’s head out of the body, but at the 
chest it wa^ faster than ever ; and all our strength, seven or 
eight of us, could not get farther on. On feeling the front of 
the chest I could detect a sort of elastic tumour, as if it contained 
air, into which I put my penknife, and made an opening into the 
chest; when, immediately, out sprang the lungs of the calf be- 
tween the two first ribs, in an emphysematous state, and which 
I removed, and on doing so I found that the vertebra near the 
bottom of the neck had been completely luxated by excessive 
force. The calf now came out without using half the force we 
had previously done, and soon after the cow got up and ate 
some hay and a bran mash. 
Observations . — The great difficulty in this case arose from 
proper help not being earlier at hand, as the parts when I saw 
her were become so swollen that one could only just get the arm 
up, and thus giving us little room for action. The farriers urged 
me, when the calf was righted, that nothing but strength could 
remove it ; but had I been alone, I should have removed it by 
taking out the thoracic and abdominal viscera, and cutting the 
ribs off, by which means nothing near the force would have been 
required. When excessive pulling was used, I could hear some- 
thing give way or tear, like a cracking or separation of some 
joint. 
This case also shews clearly how very tough the hide of a calf 
is, as the hook retained its hold after great force had been used 
for a considerable length of time. She got well in the course of 
a few months ; but I hardly expected it, from the rough usage 
which she had sustained. 
CASE III. 
BREECH PRESENTATION — EXTRACTION. 
} February 8th, 1841. — I was this day sent for, at about five 
o’clock, p.m., to attend a cow belonging to Mrs. Price, of Bubney, 
• that had been endeavouring to calve all day, and the calf was 
ultimately found to be in a wrong position. 
On introducing my arm I found that it was a breech present- 
ation, and that the hind legs lay down towards the udder. In 
order to accomplish my object, I first tied a cord round each 
hock ; I then got a person gently to pull at the near one, while 
I tried to reach and get the foot up into the vagina ; but I could 
not. All this was done while the cow was standing. 
