518 



OBSTETRICAL OPERATIOXS. 



modified form, to be presently noticed. Eainard^ remarks : " Medical 

 men will be astonished that I have not mentioned the forceps, from 

 which they derive such great advantages. This instrument, which can 

 seize a round head, like that of a child — when each "blade fits exactly 

 throughout its whole length — will have much less hold on that of 

 animals, which is elongated, flattened at the sides, and otherwise but 

 little yielding. When the forceps is applied to the Foal or Calf, it slips 

 and is useless. Otherwise, the readiness with which cords can be 

 attached to the head and limbs renders these in every way preferable 

 to this instrument. What the forceps cannot do, the cords can ; and 



Fig. 1S4. 

 Simple Short Crotchet-Forceps. 



they have the additional advantage that they scarcely occupy any space 

 in the pelvic canal. The pelvis of our animals is nearly rectilinear ; 

 with the cords we pull in a straight line ; what more could the forceps 

 do ? The entire hand can be introduced freely into the pelvis, and 

 moved about easily. This cannot be done in human accouchements." 

 There is no known forceps capable of affording such a solid purchase, 

 and at the same time one so harmless, as good cords fixed on the 

 pasterns, or a halter properly placed on the head. 



Fig. 185. 

 Long Simple Crotchet-Forceps. 



Though an instrument resembling the human forceps is not at all 

 adapted for extracting the foetus in such animals as the Mare or Cow, 

 and though in the cords and halter an excellent substitute is found ; 

 yet modified forceps, which might be designated — if not from their 

 shape, at least from their action — crotchet-forceps, have been long 

 employed by veterinary obstetrists, and with much advantage in certain 

 cases. The simplest of these consists merely of two short crotchets, 

 the points opposite each other, and a cord passing through both eye- 

 lets (Fig. 184). The hooks can be inserted near, but opposite to, each 

 other, on each side of the spine, pelvis, head, flanks, etc., the cord, 



1 0;j. cit., vol. ii., p. 98. 



