EMBRYOTOMY. 533 



or more parts, so that the remainder can bo removed from tlie uterine 

 cavity. Of course, the life of the fcctus, if it be aUve, is sacrificed in 

 every case ; and this sacrifice is only made to prevent a j,'reater loss — 

 the death of the parent. But in resorting to embryotomy, the veteri- 

 nary obstetrist is not hampered by those grave considerations which, 

 from a legal, moral, and religious point of view, have so long embar- 

 rassed the action of the accoucheur of woman. 



The question with the veterinary surgeon, should the foetus be living, 

 is as to the respective value of parent and offspring, and which of these 

 should be preserved in the interest of the owner. 



In nearly every instance the response is entirely in favour of the 

 parent, this being of most commercial value ; and this fact, together 

 with the absence of legal and moi'al objections, will account for embry- 

 otomy being much more frequently practised in vetci'inary than in 

 human obstetrics. Nevertheless, the destruction of the living foetus in 

 the case of the domesticated animals should not be lightly entertained ; 

 it is the duty of the veterinarian, in the interest of his client, to preserve 

 the life of the young creature, as well as that of the parent, by every 

 means in his power ; and it is not until these means have been fairly 

 tried, or are deemed insufficient after due deliberation and without 

 trial, that the necessary mutilation should be undertaken. And it 

 must not be forgotten that embryotomy is not always without danger 

 for the parent ; on the contrary, it is nearly always serious, and its 

 consequences have often to be dreaded, while to the operator it is in the 

 great majority of cases a heavy and fatiguing task. 



When the fa-tus is alive, then, it is only the most urgent necessity 

 that should impel the obstetrist to resort to embryotomy ; though 

 when the creature is dead there is no need for hesitation, and the 

 operation may be undertaken at once, if the operator is satisfied that 

 extraction cannot be effected otherwise. 



The conditions which generally require recourse to embryotomy have 

 been indicated. They are: dcfonnitics of the maternal pelvis — either 

 congenital or acquired, constitutional or accidental — which prevent ex- 

 traction of the intact ftt'tus, this condition being, however, very rare in 

 animals; hyslcroccle ; (Uaproportion hctu-ecn the size of the fa: t us and the 

 fjenital canal ; certain kinds of vtonstrositi/ ; T^a.rt\cu\iir malprcsentatio7is 

 and malpositions of limbs or body, as well as irreducible distortions of 

 the foetus ; death of the frtus, when its retention in the uterus has given 

 rise to intense emphysema which hinders delivery ; certain diseases of 

 the foetus, as hydrocephalus, ascitis, (rdoma, etc. Indeed, embryotomy 

 is indicated in every case when parturition cannot be accomplished by 

 the other measures already mentioned, without seriously compromising 

 the life or future usefulness of the parent. 



It has been stated that division of the foetus is very often a heavy and 

 fatiguing task ; and it may now be remarked that, however easy it may 

 be to lay down rules and give directions as to how the operation should 

 be conducted, only those who have had experience of it can testify that 

 it is much easier to write and to speak than to act, and that some of the 

 mancpuvres so complacently recommended by those who have but little 

 knowledge of the practical part of veterinary obstetrics, cannot be carried 

 out. 



The fact that only one hand can be employed in the uterus, that this 

 organ is applied close to the fcctus when the " waters" have escaped 

 for some time, that the membranes are adhesive and cling to the 



