TREATMENT OF THE MOTHER. 251 



sors, about three inches from the puppy's abdomen. 

 This operation can be performed with perfect safety five 

 minutes after the little one is in the world, for circu- 

 lation in the cord will then have ceased and the blood- 

 vessels collapsed. 



With every birth the mother rises on her forelegs and 

 twists herself to reach the new-comer, which she properly 

 cares for and pushes around in front of her before she 

 again lies down. It is in this act far oftener than in any 

 other that she crushes her puppies, for although such 

 contortion is never very easy even for bitches of light 

 build, to those of short and ponderous bodies it evidently 

 proves extremely tiresome, and although they mvariably 

 try to prevent it, not infrequently they fall back quite 

 heavily as though exhausted. 



Considering which, also the disposition to snuggle the 

 puppies as soon as they are born, obviously the accident 

 in question must often happen unless they are removed 

 out of harm's way. And this is always best with large 

 breeds, which are never disturbed if the precaution is 

 taken properly. The attendant has merely to provide a 

 shallow basket, containing a piece of well-warmed flannel 

 or blanket, and in this place the puppies as soon as the 

 cords have been detached. They will now be kept warm, 

 dry quickly and gain more speedily in vitality and strength 

 than they would on the bed with the mother ; and if the 

 basket is placed in front of her, where she can easily see 

 into it while lying down, she will not be likely to show 

 any concern over the interference. 



The whelping over, the mother will lie quietly for a 

 short time, during which she should not be disturbed, but 

 when she gets up voluntarily, all being in readiness, her 

 platform and straw — now wet and soiled — should be 

 removed, the floor hastily mopped and covered with saw- 



