157 
Translations and Reviews of Continental 
Veterinary Journals. 
By W. Ernes, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
Journal des Veterinaires du Midi. 
DIFFICULT PARTURITION IN A MARE. 
By M. Marty, Veterinary Surgeon. 
The author of the above case was called upon to attend a 
mare which could not foal. He found her down, lying on 
her right side, in great pain, and making strong but in¬ 
effectual efforts to get rid of a dead foetus, which was forced 
nearly one half out of the vulva, while the posterior part of 
its body was firmly fixed, and could not be expelled from the 
uterus, notwithstanding the violent straining of the mare. 
At times she was standing, but more frequently she was 
down. The respiration was accelerated; the pulse strong 
and frequent; the mucous membranes highly congested ; the 
extremities cold, and the body covered with cold perspiration. 
The foal was alive on its exit from the uterus. Under these 
circumstances, the case was more surprising to the author, he 
knowingthat generally parturition was completed when the fore 
part of the body had cleared the uterus, and therefore he was at 
a loss to what cause to attribute this extraordinary obstacle 
to the complete delivery of the foal; but after a little reflec¬ 
tion, he thought it might be a similar case to one pre¬ 
viously recorded by M. Caull. With great difficulty the 
author succeeded in introducing his hand into the vagina, so 
as to reach the abdomen, where, to his astonishment, he 
found the hind feet. This at once convinced him that he 
had to do with a very curious presentation, and one which 
had not been described. The foetus was in the position of a 
dog seated on the ground, or lying on his belly. The hind 
legs were bent at the hocks in such a manner that the feet 
were brought forward under the belly, and by that means an 
arch was formed, which rendered the passage of the foetus 
impossible. To overcome this difficulty three means pre¬ 
sented themselves: the first was, to return the legs into the 
uterus at the same time that traction was effected on the 
body of the foetus; but the difficulty of introducing the arm 
far enough to accomplish this was insurmountable. The 
second was that recommended by M. Rainard in cases of 
difficult parturition, namely, to return the foetus into the 
