Pupping] 2 5 1 [Pupping 



legs are thrown in a backward direction, causing 

 the shoulder to project, thus inducing a mechanical 

 impediment to birth. These are not very trouble- 

 some cases, as a rule, for the legs, by means of a 

 blunt-pointed round hook, may be drawn forward; 

 if there is nothing better at hand, a long button- 

 hook will answer the purpose. 



This accomplished, the puppy should come 

 away easily ; but if the bitch is weak from long 

 straining, it is advisable to remove the puppy 

 entirely, especially if it is thought there are more 

 to come. I may mention here when one has to use 

 instruments of any kind to assist the patient, the 

 puppy is generally in some way injured, so that 

 if it does not die at the time, it usually does very 

 soon after ; but after all, this is of little conse- 

 quence compared with the life of the mother. 



In some instances the puppy presents itself at 

 the mouth of the womb with the top of the head 

 foremost, the nose being pressed down against 

 the chest; if it is at all large, birth is very difficult 

 in this position. In such cases, one should try 

 and elevate the nose with the point of the finger ; 

 when the bitch is not a large one this is often pos- 

 sible, but when she is, it is necessary to employ a 

 crotchet or crook — as mentioned before, a button- 

 hook with a long handle does very well — and, if 

 possible, it should be fixed in the mouth and the 

 nose drawn up ; this is rendered more easy, if one 

 can, by means of the finger of the other hand, 

 press the neck backwards towards the body of 

 the bitch. It is, however, often impossible to 

 raise the head, and the only thing to be done is 



