PRETERNATURAL PRESENTATIONS IN MARES. 323 
which he now thought had indications of approaching partu¬ 
rition. When I saw the animal, she was grazing in a field, 
and did not appear to be uneasy; and as she was vicious, 
and would not allow any one to go near her, I waited half 
an hour to watch her movements. During this time there 
did not seem to be anything the matter with her, but 
her owner said that he thought u she was about a week off 
her proper time of foaling,” Two hours afterwards I visited 
her again, when I found her in the same state, and learned 
that she had given no other indications of pain. 
Two days subsequently to this I was sent for a second time, 
there being now unmistakable symptoms of labour. They had 
got her into the stable, and with the aid of a twitch and a rope 
placed on both her hind heels, and fastened round her neck, 
I was enabled to make an examination, when I found the 
foal to be placed on its back, with its hocks presented 
towards the os uteri. With difficulty I succeeded in getting 
one of the legs forward, and subsequently to amputate the 
other at the hock-joint. A hook was placed within the 
pelvis of the foal, and both hind limbs being secured, I used 
all my force to turn the foal back upwards, which, with the 
assistance of those present, was at last accomplished. We 
were obliged to use considerable force in extracting the 
foetus, during which the perinaeum gave way. A few stitches, 
however, sufficed to bring the edges of the laceration together 
after delivery, and to arrest the haemorrhage. 
Before leaving, I administered some sedative medicine, 
combined with a gentle aperient. She rallied quickly, and I 
left her eating a mash. Saw her next day, when all appeared 
to be going on pretty well. The bowels were acting satis¬ 
factorily, but the pulse was rather quicker and weaker than 
could be wished, and the swelling of the injured parts was 
attended with an unpleasant fetor. Fomentations and the 
use of a weak solution of the chloride of zinc were ordered. 
On the next day the swelling was diminished, but the pulse 
was even more rapid and weaker. She was also frequently 
straining and voiding the urine. On the following dav 
O O O fc/ 
she died. 
Case 4.—May 10th, 1840.—I was sent for in a great hurry 
to a large, black, cart-mare, which the messenger reported to 
be straining most violently. The place was eight miles dis¬ 
tant, and I remarked that I feared she might be dead before 
I got there. My first step on my arrival was to ascertain the 
nature of the presentation, which I did with great difficulty^ 
as the mare was very violent. The foal was lying on its 
