Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

392 CATTLF.
already described, and the shoulder detached, which, considering the
weakness of the muscles and ligaments at that age* will be readily
effected. The assistant then pulling steadily at the legs, and the
surgeon forcing the chest back into the belly, the extraction of the
foetus will rarely be difficult.
It may happen that after many thoes no portion of the foetus ap-
pears, but the calf is found turned in the womb, with his back resting
on the belly of the mother, the feet against the spine, the head
depressed below the bones^of the pelvis, and the poll pressing against
these bones. To turn the calf in this position will" be difficult, and
often impossible ; but, cords having been fastened, as before, to the
feet and the lower jaw, the hand should be introduced under the
head, so as to raise it in some measure, and enable the assistants, by
means of the cords, to bring it and the feet into the passage. If the
foetus should be dead,_or the life of the mother appear to be in dan-
ger, it will be very easy, while in this position, to separate one or
both shoulders, and the head may then be readily brought out.
It is not uncommon for the tail alone to be seen at the mouth of
the passage. This is a breech presentation, and a very dangerous
one. The calf cannot be expelled by the natural throes of tie
mother, the doubling of the hind-legs offering an insuperable obstacle
nor will it be possible for the foetus to be turned in the womb. The
hand must be introduced ; one of the hocks searched out; and the
noose end of a cord brought round it : next, the free end of the cord
must be carried in and passed through the noose, which is to be
tightened and fixed above the hock. The operator must then press
against the breech, forcing the calf backward and upward, while the
assistants draw the hock to the commencement of the passage by
means of the cords. The surgeon should then shift his hand down
to the hoof, in order to guard the uterus, as' the foot is brought over
the ridge of the pelvis. The other hock being afterwards drawn
from under the foetus
complished.
in the same' way, the birth may be easily ac-
The birth being effected, the practitioner should examine the
womb, in order to ascertain the state of the placenta, and whether
there is a second calf. The case of twins will not often give the
practitioner much trouble, for the calves are generally small and
easily brought through the passage, unless they should both present
themselves at the same time ; therefore, at the commencement of
every labor, the surgeon should carefully ascertain whether the parts
presenting may not belong to two distinct calves ; in which case one
must be pushed back until the other is delivered, for in the attempt
to extract them both together, the mother and the calves would in-
evitably perish.
FREE-MARTINS.
The opinion has prevailed among breeders from time out of date,.
;