vi PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



knowledge of the subject which was either very imperfectly or not at all 

 taught at the Veterinary Schools, and could not be found elsewhere. 

 To deliver one of the larger domesticated animals in a case of difficult 

 parturition requires special knowledge and aptitudes ; and even those 

 practitioners who are fortunate in possessing these will be the first to 

 confess that to attempt delivery in many cases is really a work of the 

 Danaides. 



To the members of the Veterinary profession, therefore, no apology 

 can be necessary in offering for their acceptance the present book. 

 Eveiy endeavour has been made to make it a standard work, represen- 

 tative of the most advanced views relating to this department of 

 Veterinary Medicine. Animated by the desire to present my colleagues 

 in English-speaking countries with a text-book at least equal to the best 

 of the many which have been published on the Continent — a list of 

 which is appended — every likely source of information has been made 

 available, and no labour or pains have been spared to render my onerous 

 and very difficult task as complete and as useful as possible. A glance 

 at the references and illustrative cases will testify to the correctness of 

 this statement. 



It has often been a matter for regret by the accoucheur of women, 

 that the parturient period of animals was one upon which they could 

 obtain but little, if any, information ; and its relations and importance 

 with regard to this and the puerperal period in the human species has 

 frequently been insisted upon. I trust that this cause for regret may be 

 at least partially removed, and that the text-book may prove of some 

 service to those medical men who are anxiously striving to advance 

 human obstetricy, and a knowledge of those pathological processes 

 around which there is still doubt and uncertainty. 



My best thanks are due to Professor Saint-Cyr, of the Lyons Veteri- 

 nary School, for allowing me to use many of the drawings which illus- 

 trate his excellent treatise on the same subject, and to w^hich I have 

 often referred with much advantage. I am also greatly indebted to 

 Mr. W. A. Cartwa-ight, of Whitchurch, Salop, for his kindness in look- 

 ing over the proof-sheets containing the more practical portion of the 

 subject ; his long experience and skilful practice, combined with careful 

 reading and study, rendered his assistance particularly valuable in this 

 respect. 



In this first attempt to deal with a very serious task, omissions and 

 defects will doubtless be discovered. But in the circumstances in which 

 I was placed they were unavoidable, and perhaps, after all, they will 

 not interfere with the utility of the work. Now that certain principles 

 in animal obstetrics have been laid down, and a commencement has 

 been made to establish the practice of the Veterinary Obstetrist on a 

 sound scientific basis, it is to be hoped that rapid progress will be made 

 in rendering it more perfect. Humanity is perhaps as deeply concerned 

 in this direction as in many others, and it must always be an important 

 object with the Veterinary Surgeon to spare animals pain, and to abridge 

 their sufferings as much as possible. 



GEOEGE FLEMING, 

 Second Life Guards. 

 Regent s Park Barracks, 

 November, 1877. 



