VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
313 
to have recourse to embryotomy, whether in the cow or mare, and after all 
death is most probable, from the extravasation of blood around the vagina 
and uterus, and from the prostration of the vital forces.’ 
“In commenting on the case I attended, as reported by Mr. Calley, 
Mr. Cartwright says, that considering the want of instruments, and the 
length of time the mare had been violently straining, and the foal 
displaced, he thought it was prudent and humane that she should be 
destroyed. 
“Permit me also to read a letter from one of the ornaments of our pro¬ 
fession, and who owes his position as a skilful country practitioner to sound 
common sense, a love for his profession, and the enlightened instruction of 
the late Mr. Barlow, whose particular friend, I understand, he .always was. 
This gentleman, Mr. Robertson, of Kelso, one of the veterinary examiners 
for the Highland Society, says : 
“ ‘ Kelso, 9th February, 1860. 
“ ‘My dear Mr. Gamgee,—During the season, I generally have a con¬ 
siderable amount of obstetric practice, and the majority of the cases in which 
my services are requested have proved too much for others. 
“ * I find that assistance is more frequently required in the cow than in 
the mare. 
“ ‘ As regards the number of cases that succeed in my hands after having 
been roughly handled by others, I should say, that in 99 per cent. I find 
the foetus dead, or only surviving delivery, while many of the parents ulti¬ 
mately succumb. 
“ ‘ I have never met with a case of back-turned head in the marc, but 
very many in the cow. I have in her found the foetus so wedged in the 
pelvis by the traction employed, that not only has the ordinary method 
(that of employing the free extremities as means by which to thrust), but 
every other which I could devise proved abortive to effect its displacement 
as a whole. 
“ ‘ In all such the fluids have escaped some considerable time previous, the 
parts are dry and swollen, and the foetus dead. 
“ ‘ However, I have never, as yet , been baffled to effect delivery, having 
at once recourse to embryotomy. 
“ ‘ In disarticulating the fore extremities, my practice is invariably to 
divide the integument over the lower metacarpal articulation, running the 
knife up the inside of the limb as high as possible, detaching with the finger 
as much of the skin as I cau, while, by traction applied to the limb, its seve¬ 
rance from the trunk is effected; very seldom indeed does the scapula fail to 
come away. 
“ ‘ Having in this manner removed the fore extremities, the more difficult 
part I find to be the bringing of the head into the axis of the pelvis, to 
effect which I employ a hook, a cord, or both, with the former endea¬ 
vouring to grasp some part of the head, employing the latter to pass round 
the neck. 
“ ‘ However, it is needless detailing such matters to you; I have been 
prosy enough; if you desire any such in extenso, I shall be happy to give 
what I can. To say the least of these cases, they are unpleasant; I always 
feel the effects of the exertions they call forth for some days afterwards. 
“ ‘ Yours sincerely, 
“ ‘ William Robertson.’ 
“Of the general practitioners having very extensive practice in deli¬ 
vering animals in cases of difficult labour, I have to mention Mr. Charles 
