328 CASE OF DIFFICULT PARTURITION IN A MARE. 
sacrificed, as was done by Professor Gamgee, but that much 
may be accomplished by proper management to save both 
the life of the mare and the foal. 
The mare I was called to treat was purchased by a farmer 
in Peebleshire, last November twelvemonth, but the seller 
could not give the proper time of her foaling. On the 
morning of the 21st June I was sent for to see her, as 
assistance in foaling was required. I found her lying, and 
all four feet of the foal protruding externally from the va¬ 
gina. I was told she had been in the same state for some 
hours previously. Uterine action was violent. I had her 
raised for the purpose of examination, and on gently intro¬ 
ducing my hand I found the foal so doubled together as to 
allow of its four feet entering the vagina at the same time, 
but without the head. The straining was so violent that I 
could not return the presenting parts. The head of the foal 
was doubled over and resting upon the shoulder, with the 
crown downwards. The jaws were completely twisted aside 
from pressure against the pelvis of the mother. The mare 
was in labour with her first foal, and I considered that she 
had gone her full time. I administered a sedative draught, 
consisting of three ounces of tincture of opium and half a 
pint of linseed oil, and ordered her to be left quiet for a 
short time. 
In the space of an hour or so I found the uterine action 
less violent. The mare was then raised, and, with the help 
of an assistant, I succeeded in returning the presenting 
parts into the uterus. I next inserted a small parturition 
hook, with a cord attached to it, into the nose of the 
foal, and I gave an assistant instructions to gently draw 
at it, while with my hand I was raising the head into its 
proper position. By these means the mare was speedily 
delivered, and in comparatively an easy manner. I see no 
difficulty, with a little care and time, and by the same treat¬ 
ment, in delivering similar cases safely. I should never once 
have thought of amputating the legs of the foal at the knees , 
as was done bv Air. Gamgee in the case to which Mr. 
Balfour refers. I regard the legs as the principal or only 
parts by which manual assistance can be applied to render 
delivery at all practicable. 
I have had several similar cases, both in cows and mares, 
which were all treated in the same way, and successfully so. 
I have never found that opium increased uterine action, but, 
on the contrary, that it always diminished it. I consider 
the removal of the legs at the knees to be worse than use¬ 
less. It is malpractice, because, if the pasterns are taken 
