592 Vefennarj' Obstetrics 



are not very intelligent, and such persons at once render his task 

 more difficult in controlling the application of force. 



The barbarous method, which is more or less in vogue, of de- 

 veloping force by hitching one or more horses to the foal or calf, 

 requires no condemnation. Such a force is quite beyond control. 

 The horses become excited and jump or jerk in such a way as 

 to be exceedingly dangerous for the mother and fetus, if the latter 

 is yet alive. After one or two ineffectual efforts to overcome 

 the resistance, the horse behaves so badly that his starting and 

 stopping cannot be depended upon. Besides this we have very 

 poor control, under these circumstances, of the direction in which 

 the force is to be exerted. Any sudden movement of the patient 

 changes the direction of the traction quite as suddenly and may 

 be fraught with serious results. 



When power must be developed, requiring the force of more 

 than 4 or 5 men, it is preferable according to our experience to 

 supplant the men with mechanical appliances, of which we have 

 many. The two to which we have usuall}^ resorted, and which 

 have given us highly satisfactory results, have been the lever and 

 the pulley. 



The lever is universally available and can be applied under 

 almost any conditions which might be named, except possibly in 

 those in.stances where the stall in which the operation is under- 

 taken is too small to permit of its use. In such instances, 

 however, it is almost equally difficult to apply other mechanical 

 •force. Our method has been to procure a stout beam from 8 to 10 

 feet in length and to find a secure resting place for the fixed end 

 of the lever, which is to act as a fulcrum, against a door, post, or 

 other solid object. If the animal is in the pasture, or otherwise in 

 the open, and recumbent, a stout stake may be driven in the 

 ground to serve as a fulcrum and the end of the lever placed 

 against this. A hole may be made in the ground or in the floor 

 and the end of the lever inserted into this. The cord or rope 

 which is attached to the fetus may then be made fast to the 

 lever at a distance of about two feet from the fulcrum and the 

 power applied to the long arm of the lever, by one, two or more 

 men, as conditions may warrant. The amount of power which 

 may be developed in this way is virtually unlimited, its direc- 

 tion is under excellent control, and it is free from irregularities 

 in its application. 



