OBSTETRICS 



221 



risen much above normal. Empty the bladder and the lower bowel; and 

 having washed out the genital passages with an antiseptic solution, put 

 the animal under ether. The bitch is laid on her back, the legs are held 

 by an assistant, the forelegs together and the hind legs wide apart. The 

 region where the incision is to be made should be thoroughly washed and 

 the hair removed from the part. Make an incision on the median line of 

 the linea alba anterior to the umbilicus with a sharp-pointed bistoury, 

 and cut into the abdominal cavity, taking care not to injure the intestines 

 or uterus; then insert a probe-pointed bistoury and make the opening 



Fig. 90. — Apparatus for the extraction of the foetus and method of extraction: a, Brulet's apparatus; 

 b, method of application.; c, Defay's apparatus. 



larger, cutting toward the pubis; then cut through the omentum; the 

 uterus is now visible and can be lifted out and the foetuses can be felt in 

 the uterus, separated by a constriction of the body of the horn. Pull the 

 uterus out of the opening as far as possible and have an assistant keep the 

 opening of the abdominal wall closed, so as not to allow the intestines to 

 escape, and also to avoid any of the fluids from the uterus falling into the 

 cavity; and by means of a bistoury open the uterus by making an incision 

 through its wall; the opening should not be any larger than is necessary to 

 get the foetus and the membranes out. It is not necessary to make an 

 incision in the horn over each foetus, but after one foetus is removed the 

 others can be pushed toward the opening and removed through it, taking 

 care to remove the membranes also. The uterus is now thoroughly dis- 

 infected with corrosive sublimate solution (1 to 5000) or boric acid, 2 per 



