MECHANICAL AIDS TO DELIVERY 



283 



Many parts of the body of the foetus are available for the application 

 of ropes and other instruments, by and through which to bring traction 

 to bear upon the foetus. 



A stop- noose may be ap- 

 plied round the neck, a light 

 head -stall extemporized out of 

 a strong cord may be fitted to 

 the head. A running noose 

 passed into the mouth and 

 carried over the poll, or ap- 

 plied round the lower jaw, will 

 aid materially in the applica- 

 tion of force, and the same may 

 be said of ropes applied above 

 the hock or knee, or the fet- 

 lock, or the foot. 



When no sufficient hold can 

 be secured by these means, 

 hooks of various descriptions 

 may be brought into use; but 

 it must be understood that, 

 while in trained hands they 

 are most useful au.xiliaries, in 

 the hands of the unskilled they 



may prove dangerous and even deadly instruments. Hooks or crotchets 

 may be sharp or blunt, single or double (figs. 557). Some are attached 

 to ropes, and others are fixed to handles. The crutch or repeller (fig. 558) 



Fig. 557. — Hooks or Crotulmts 

 rt, Sharp; /j, blunt; c, double. 



Fig. 558. — Gowing's Parturition Instrument 

 ft, Crutcli or repeller. 



is another means of moving the Ijody of the foal backwards into the 

 womb when it is desired to make room for securing and changing the 

 position of one or more of the extremities. Blunt hooks connected with 

 a rod will be found useful to anchor on to the angle of the mouth or 



