574 Veterinary Obstetrics 



placed the life of the mother beyond the possibility of being 

 preserved by the veterinarian. 



It is consequently of great importance that the veterinarian 

 should use every opportunity to instruct his clients in reference 

 to the great importance of calling him early and of leaving the 

 case entirely alone until his arrival, except in those instances 

 where a little intelligent manipulation may bring about a prompt 

 and easy delivery. 



The subject of veterinary obstetrics has not been well studied 

 or taught, and the work of many American veterinary obstet- 

 rists has been entirely too inefficient to command that con- 

 fidence and respect of the stock-owner which it should. If the 

 practitioner desires to be called early he must first be able to 

 impress upon his clients, by means of efficient work, the eco- 

 nomic advantage of an early call. In order to do this, the vet- 

 erinary obstetrist needs prepare himself in an intelligent manner, 

 by study, experience and equipment, to render the highest pos- 

 sible service in promptness and efficiency. 



Some writers upon obstetrics would well-nigh exclude many 

 veterinarians from obstetric practice because of their physique. 

 But some of the conditions which they regard as essential to 

 success are not really of such great importance as they would 

 have us believe. Any man of nioderate size, strength and power 

 of endurance can succeed as an obstetrist, if he will but give his 

 subject that amount of study and research which its importance 

 demands. Some say that long and powerful arms are absolutely 

 neces.sary, and we will admit that they possess certain advan- 

 tages. But a ' ' long head " is worth more than an extra one or 

 two inches in length of arm. 



As in other surgical operations, the veterinary obstetrist re- 

 quires, above all, intelligence, education, experience, and de- 

 termination. 



He must husband his strength, must possess the ability to 

 have others carry out any manipulations or work which they 

 can properly do under his directions, and must reserve his own 

 force and strength for the proper direction of the work of others 

 and for those manipulations which he alone is competent to 

 properly perform. It is not his office to exert traction upon a 

 fetus when a bystander can do it equally well. Such labor is 



