140 
VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
3d. That practitioners in large towns, otherwise in exten¬ 
sive practice, may not average above one case of this description 
in twelve months, and then are not often called in till the 
persons on the spot, and possibly three or four of their 
neighbours, supposed to be skilled in such matters, have 
laboured for hours with the hope of overcoming the difficulty. 
But to the case in point, and to answer the queries as best I 
can. 
When the fore legs protrude without the head, my prac¬ 
tice is to fasten a cord, having a running noose, around each 
pastern, and next to push back the feet. By this means you 
have the feet at command, and can bring them forward at 
any time; the main point being to get the head into its 
proper position. The search for the head must then be 
made, and much manipulation will often be required even to 
detect its precise position ; and even when this is ascertained, 
it can perhaps only be reached with the tips of your fingers. 
Having made this discovery—if feeling a thing you cannot 
see can be so called—you must next direct your efforts to 
the getting hold of the muzzle, so as to bring the head a little 
round. This being accomplished, you may then insert a hook 
at the symphysis of the lower jaw, and draw r gently at it, for 
the union of the two sides being incomplete, it will not stand 
the application of much force. If this proceeding only serves 
to bring the head a little nearer the mouth of the uterus, so 
as to allow of the practitioner placing his forefinger in the 
orbit, it will have effected its end. The next step is to intro¬ 
duce a blunt, flat-pointed hook into each orbital cavity. The 
hooks I use for the purpose have a shank of about four or 
five inches long, w'ith an eye at the end, to which a cord is 
attached. Pull firmly at these hooks, and having also got 
the feet up by means of the cords attached to them, let 
these be advanced iust in front of the muzzle. 
V 
The principal force must be applied to the head, for if 
otherwise, the elbow-joints of the limbs are drawn down 
against the lower portion of the pelvis, and thus impede pro¬ 
gress. Pull steadily at the hooks in the sockets of the eyes, 
and also, but more gently, with that in the lower jaw, get 
the muzzle in sight, and very shortly your work will be 
done. 
Delivery in such cases is hard work and a dirty job, but I 
will not say a thankless one, for, if successfully accomplished, 
the practitioner is sure to receive his due meed of credit. If 
the patient be a cow, the goodwife of the house, moved by, 
not only the pecuniary saving which has been effected, but 
also by the relief given to her favorite “ Crummie,” is ready 
