DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT 361 



hands embrace the abdomen ; and at the time when 

 spasm seizes her, let gentle pressure be made upon its 

 sides. If the pains be false, the convulsion will be felt 

 to render turgid the muscles of the abdomen, but nothing 

 within it will at the same time feel hard. Should, how- 

 ever, the labor have commenced, other signs than these 

 will then declare the fact. When the throes come on, 

 the uterus will contract ; and beneath the hands it will 

 be then felt a hard, harsh, and solid body. Its charac- 

 ter, when naturally excited, is not to be mistaken ; but 

 is so well and strongly marked, that there is no excuse 

 for not detecting its indication. 



For false pains nothing need be done for some time ; 

 but if they continue, and seem to distress the animal, 

 ether and opium may be freely given by the mouth ; 

 thjs will have the effect of quieting the spasm without 

 injuring the pups. 



The existence of true labor being ascertained, should 

 there be sufficient cause to suspect obstruction to be pre- 

 sent, then let the finger be oiled and introduced up the 

 passage with caution as directed. Some persons when 

 called to a bitch in pup, always begin at once doing this, 

 but it should not be done unless there be some reason for 

 the practice. I have known fellows poke the poor ani- 

 mals about, as though to do so was an important duty, 

 which they were bound incessantly to perform. The 

 introduction of the finger cannot do otherwise than re- 

 move the mucus which Nature provides to lubricate the 

 passage and facilitate the egress of the pup. It is the 



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