MECHANICAL EXTRACTIOX OF THE FCETf'S. 



607 



After drawing the portion with the check-knot on it sufliciontly tight 

 to place the head-piece in its proper situation, the same portion should 

 be passed or hitched round the lower end of the head; 

 the knots ought to lie between the branches of the lower 

 jaw. If it is desired to have only one traction cord, the 

 running-knot or loop should be made at one end, and the 

 check-knot a calculated distance from it (Fig. 1G3). 



This forms a very simple and solid apparatus for 

 exercising any amount of traction on the head, without 

 much risk of danger to the fcctus. 



A still simpler method is passing the middle of a ten 

 or twelve foot cord behind the ears of the foetus, carrying 

 the sides down behind the lower jaw, and then twisting 

 them outside the vulva until the two ends form one 

 portion between the branches of the jaw. This, how- 

 ever, has rather a tendency in some cases to tilt the nose 

 too much upwards. 



With the smaller animals, cords cannot be passed 

 around the head of the fa3tus in the same manner as 

 in the Mare or Cow, because of the want of space ; and 

 on the same grounds forceps are objectionable. For 

 anatomical reasons, it is essential that the traction force 

 should be applied behind the head, as if the sum of the 

 expulsive efforts were directed there. With this object, 

 Defays devised an apparatus which fulfils this indication, 

 and is very simple and easily applied. It consists merely 

 of two very pliable copper or brass wires — twisted picture- 

 frame wire I have found to answer admirably — about 

 sixteen inches in length, and looped in the middle, so as 

 to be applied to the fcctus in the following manner : The 

 first finger of the left hand being passed into the vagina, 

 -erves to guide one of the loops towards the summit of 

 and behind the foetal head ; and it then conducts the 

 loop of the other wire beneath the head behind the jaw. 

 This done, the two wires on each side are twisted by a 

 little machine (Fig. IGo) composed of a thin iron rod in a 

 handle, the other end of which is thickened and pierced 

 by holes running nearly parallel to the stalk. Into these 

 holes the two wires of one side are passed ; the machine 

 on each side is pulled up as close as possible to the head 

 of the fcotus, and then, each being turned round three or 

 four times, the neck is enclosed in a kind of noose or 

 collar formed by the two wires (Fig. 166). 



The rods are now withdrawn from the latter, and the 

 foetus can be extracted by exercising traction on the ends 

 of the four wires outside the vulva. By this contrivance, 

 delivery is effected without injury to the Bitch, and, 

 unless it is much decomposed, without separating the with the Tob- 

 head of the foetus. «'on Rons. 



We have tried Defays' apparatus, and can speak highly of it ; not 

 infrequently we have succeeded in extracting the Puppy alive, and 

 when the use of forceps would have been impossible. 



A much simpler, readier, and perhaps more successful apparatus (so 



Fig. ifi.'i. 



r)Er.\Ts' WlRK 



Extra rroR 



