THE SOW : SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT I4I 



wire hook. This, in the hands of a carefiu operator, is 

 a most efficient instrument. It can be quickly made 

 from a j^iece of fence wire, but it is better to make two 

 or three at leisure and have them on hand ready for use. 

 A No. 9 or No. lo steel wire is preferred. From half 

 to three-fourths of an inch is bent at a right angle to 

 constitute the hook, and the end sharpened. The handle 

 part may be a foot or more in length, with the end bent 

 at right angles or in the form of a circle, so that a secure 

 hold may be had. Tiie hook, by using the fingers as a 

 guide, is inserted into tiie space between the bones of the 

 lower jaw (either from within the mouth or from be- 

 low) or into the socket of the eye. In case considerable 

 traction is necessary two hooks should be inserted at 

 different points and both drawn on at once. This lessens 

 the danger of their tearing out. Traction upon the hooks 

 should be made coincident with the labor pains, the oper- 

 ator holding what has been gained until the next pain 

 occurs. 



*'If the assistance be given early the pig is usually se- 

 cured alive and appears none the worse for having been 

 broug-ht into the world this way. In this, as in other 

 lines of hog work, perseverance is the key to success, and 

 the operator should not be discouraged if at first no 

 progress is made. By the use of the hook and finger the 

 writer was able to extract a litter from one of his own 

 sows when the pigs had to be first sought after and 

 brought back into the pelvis. To illustrate the necessity 

 for early attention, another case from the herd may be 

 mentioned: A young sow observed making prepara- 

 tions for farrowing was watched, and after a long tiuie, 



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