MECHANICAL EXTRACTION OF THE FCETUS. 513 



serious, if not fatal injuries may be inflicted ; or the hand or arm of the 

 operator may be the part torn by it. 



These are undoubtedly disadvantages of a weighty kind ; nevertheless, 

 the veterinary obstetrist has always to contend with disadvantages in 

 cases of dystokia, and must overcome them by prudence, patience, and 

 skill. When using the crotchets the same qualities must be brought to 

 bear. His hand must diligently guide them, and note their effects and* 

 movements ; while, at the same time, he must vigilantly exercise his 

 judgment in directing his assistants as to the amount and direction of 

 the force they are to use, so as to proportion it according to the resist- 

 ance of the tissues in which the crotchet is fixed, and to desist from 

 traction as soon as there is a likelihood of the instrument breaking away 

 or slipping. With the evidence before us as to the numerous and in- 

 contestable advantages offered by these appliances, and the knowledge 

 that their disadvantages can be overcome by intelligent watchfulness, we 

 have every reason to recommend their adoption in those cases which 

 call for their employment. 



'* In all cases where the head of the foetus is back," Cartwright writes 

 to us, " I am very partial to using the long sharp-pointed hook in the 

 orbit ; even if the head is at the extreme distance, with care we can insert 

 it in the otbit and get the head in the passage. Of course, it requires 

 great care in watching that the hook does not break loose and do mis- 

 chief. I have found that we may pull by the hook in the orbit with 

 great force, without tearing the skin of the calf, provided the latter is not 

 in a decomposed state. From my experience, I can speak highly of the 

 hooks ; indeed, you cannot get the head up without them sometimes." 

 And in embryotomy the crotchets may be most usefully resorted to for 

 many purposes. 



We will now briefly refer to the parts of the foetus upon which the 

 crotchets can be most effectively employed, and the manner of employ- 

 ing them. 



Parts into which the Crotchets may be Implanted — The parts 

 into which the crotchets may be implanted are numerous, but those 

 which are selected by the obstetrist will not only depend upon the na- 

 ture of the malpresentation or malposition, but also upon the simplest 

 indications for the adjustment of these. When the desirable part has 

 been reached, the point of the crotchet is inserted in such a way that the 

 instrument is directed towards the source of traction — the assistant. 

 When blunt crotchets are employed, except in cavities, it will be neces- 

 sary to make an incision through the skin before they can be inserted. 

 Cartwright states that sometimes the sharp crotchets cannot be used 

 without making these preliminary incisions ; but then the instruments 

 must be rather blunt. The best parts for implantation are (i) the mus- 

 cular tissues, (2) the head, (3) the spine, and (4) ihe pelvis. 



I. The Muscular Tissues. — These tissues are not advantageous for the 

 employment of the crotchets, for although they are easily inserted, they 

 are as easily torn out. Nevertheless, these instruments, when fixed in 

 certain muscular regions, such as the croup, thighs, loins, and neck — 

 more especially the latter, may render useful service in rectifying devia- 

 tions, as the skin offers a good amount of resistance. But, from the 

 fragile and yielding nature of the textures, it must be borne in mind that 

 the hand of the obstetrist should never leave the crotchet while traction 



2>Z 



