544 
W. H. RIDGE. 
the inertia being due to hydraemic innervation, produced by 
sickness or exhaustion. But a more safe plan would be to 
give quinine and stimulants until the foetus has well dilated 
the cervix, and proved to be in the proper presentation and 
position. 
I think it is very rare that ergot will be needed. Never 
when the dystocia is caused by a malposition. I use internal 
force so seldom that, so far as relieving the dystocia is con¬ 
cerned, I could well get along without ergot. The only 
safe time then to give it is when the head and front legs are 
delivered and the uterus seems to contract so feebly that we 
may expect a large amount of fluid to remain in the uterus. 
After the birth of the foetus it is never desirable for the 
uterus to remain flabby and in a non-contractile state, as the 
fluid it contains is in contact with the air, and is the best of 
culture-mediums that one could desire. 
Now I desire to call your attention to the action of 
quinine ; in just such cases it stimulates the contraction of the 
uterus, not the tonic contraction of ergot, but increases the 
normal contractions, and acts very well in exhaustion, while 
you are not liable to produce those excessive after pains, that 
are most likelv to end in eversion of the uterus. 
m/ 
Now the external force is what we are most interested in. 
As I have stated, we are divided in opinion in regard to the 
amount of force we can use with propriety, for if one should 
hitch a horse to a foetus and tear it away from the mother (as 
I have cases cited to me) and the mother live, the case is re¬ 
ported for years as a favorable method. Not keeping a 
record of the cases where injury had been done, with probably 
only a fractional part of the force used, then how much 
force can we use ? I will start with traction by the operator 
upon the cow and mare. With well directed traction, and 
the foetus in proper presentation and position, traction by the 
operator will very rarely do injury, the traction of man being 
about the same force as the uterus. If I were asked how 
much force can be used, I would say never more than two 
men beside the operator, in the cow or mare, these pulling 
direct on the foetus without the use of pulleys, etc. But 
