DOGS I THEIR MANAGEMENT. 379 



thin, soft cloth, or what is better, his silk pocket-hand- 

 kerchief, and with this lay hold of any part that can be 

 grasped. If but one leg can be got hold of, that must be 

 secured, and an attempt made to bring forward the 

 other. The two being obtained, gentle force or traction 

 may be through them applied while the throes are on. 

 The dragging must not be strong, as, if the pup be alive, 

 it will be injured ; or, alive or dead, it may be torn to 

 pieces. 



A broken pup, as the fetus is called when any part of 

 it has been pulled off, is always more dangerous to the 

 life of the bitch, and much more difficult to get away, 

 than one that is entire. The impediment bears relation 

 to the extent of the mutilation. Thus the separation of 

 the head is more serious than the deprivation of a limb ; 

 for, let not the reader imagine that in the dog, as in the 

 cow or mare, embryotomy by means of a knife can be 

 successfully resorted to. I have endeavored sometimes 

 to perform craniotomy, or to remove the brains of the 

 foetus, hoping by so reducing the bulk of the head to 

 facilitate the delivery ; but the result has displeased me, 

 and I no longer follow the practice. The pup, if to be 

 got away at all, will be most easily removed entire ; and 

 that it may not have its integrity destroyed, the assist- 

 ance given to the mother must be temperate. Every 

 little aid is a help to the labor ; and knowing that, 

 we must be content if we are denied to accomplish all. 

 The traction, assisted by a secure grasp, should be 

 steady ; and the lips of the part should at the same time 



