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EM BR YO TOM Y 539 



Preliminary Arrangements for Embryotomy. 



There is not much to arrange before commencing embryotomy. The 

 operator is supposed to have made an exploration of the genital passage, 

 and to have ascertained the state of affairs ; he may even have attemp'ed 

 every thing possible in the way of extraction, and failed. Being satisfied 

 that nothing remains to be done to preserve the life of the parent, save 

 removing the fcetus piecemeal, he has to decide, from the nature of the 

 case, how this is to be effected. The necessary instruments he may have 

 with him, or they may be devised on the spot ; if the case is more diffi- 

 cult than usual, they may have to be sent for. But, as a rule, the opera- 

 tor must utilize to the best of his ability whatever is to hand ; as he usu- 

 ally finds his patient greatly exhausted, either from protracted labor or 

 the mischievous meddling of untutored hands. 



The animal must be detached from the manger or rack, and kept, if 

 possible, in a standing attitude : this position being the one best suited 

 for such an operation, or it may be tied by the head to a stake, by a 

 rather long head-rope. A rope, or, better still, a rug or blanket, should 

 be passed round the hind-quarters, a little above the hocks, the ends 

 being held by assistants standing towards the shoulders of the animal. 

 This precaution is required to steady the creature, to keep it in a stand- 

 ing position, and to assist it in resisting the traction generally employed 

 in removing the foetus. It may be necessary, if the animal is much ex- 

 hausted or suffering much pain, to administer a stimulant, meal or flour 

 gruel, or an anodyne draught. 



Cephalotomy. 



Every operation which has for its object the diminution in size of the 

 head, or rather cranium, when this part offers an obstacle to the passage 

 of the fcetus, is designated by this name. Hydrocephalus is the condi- 

 tion which most frequently calls for the operation in the larger animals ; 

 though certain malformations and monstrosities, and even^an exaggerated 

 volume of the head of the fcetus in the Bitch or Cat, may also require it. 



Cephalotomy comprises several distinct operations, which may be per- 

 formed independently or simultaneously. These are simple puncture, in- 

 cision, or crushijig of the cranial parietes. 



Puncture of the Cranium. 



In order to allow the escape of fluid from the cranium, as in hydro- 

 cephalus, and thus permit the birth of the foetus, a simple puncture is often 

 all that is necessary. The fluid having escaped, the thin fragile bones of 

 the cranium readily collapse from the pressure they undergo in the pelvic 

 cavity ; so that the head and body can be removed by traction. 



Supposing the presentation to be anterior, it is first necessary to fix 

 the head, unless it is firmly wedged in the passage ; this fixation may be 

 effected by using a head-stall, Schaack's head-stall forceps, or even a 

 cord on the lower jaw : exercising sufficient traction on the cord to pre- 

 vent the head from slipping from under the hand of the obstetrist during 

 the operation. 



The head may be punctured by a scalpel, straight bistoury, finger-knife, 

 or even the finger in certain cases. If a long-bladed instrument is used, 



