KMi:i:Y(iT(i}[y. r.35 



the use and preference for knives, much must depend upon custom and 

 the expertness of the operator. 



Nevertheless, convenience, safety, and the absence of long experience, 

 demand that proper instruments be devised for this operation. One of 

 the earliest to introduce a convenient and etlicient embryotom was 

 (liinther, who, in his work, published in 1830, figures an instrument 

 which is fixed on the finger by a ring ; the cutting edge of the blade — 

 which is about two inches long — being somewhat concave. This em- 

 bryotom lias been slightly modified in various ways by dill'erent practi- 

 tioners — sometimes having two narrow rings, so as to grasp more of the 

 finger ; at other times having, in addition, a small button on the back 

 of the blade for the finger to press upon; while the blade itself has been 

 made more cun'ed, straighter, longer, or like the blade of a fieam. 

 This instrument is the prototype of the ring scalpel invented by Dr. 

 Simpson, of St. Andrews, for opening the head of the human fcctus. 

 Two of these embryotoms which have been used in this country, are 

 shown in the annexed figures (198, 199). An improvement in this 

 instrument is having a hole at the opposite end of the blade (Fig. 199), 

 through which a piece of cord or tape can be passed and tied round 

 the wrist, to prevent the knife slipping from the finger and falling 

 into the cavity of the uterus. Indeed, this is a wise precaution with all 



Fig. 198. Fig. \W. 



Straight Embbvotom. Cikvkd Embuyotom. 



the short instruments introduced into the genital organs, as the contrac- 

 tions of the uterus, struggles of the animal, and the position of the 

 hand, as well as the slipperiness caused by the presence of mucus, etc., 

 only too often render the hold of the instrument very insecure. The 

 middle finger of the operating hand is passed through the ring and the 

 other fingers enclose the blade, which is in this way safely conveyed to 

 the part of the foetus which is to be incised. The finger-knife is the 

 most useful instrument in embryotomy. 



Giinther also at that time introduced another form of embryotom. 

 which has likewise continued in use, and has been more or less altered 

 or improved in shape. Tliis consists of a blade that can be made to 

 slide out and in a handle, by the thumb of the hand holding it. It can 

 therefore be introduced into or withdrawn from the genital passage 

 without risk of injury to the maternal organs. The annexed figure 

 (200) exhibits an improved model of Giinther's second embryotom ; the 

 original pattern had double cutting edges. It may be remarked that 

 Zundel and Saint-Cyr give Thibeaudeau the credit of inventing this 

 sliding bistoury ; but the instrument was only described by the latter 

 in 1831 ; 'whereas an exactly similar knife is figured in Giinther's work,^ 

 published at Hanover in 1830. 



' Recufil dfi Mtdtrinc Ve'ttrinaire, 1831, p. I.'i2. 



■■' fjf.hrbuch der Praktitchtn Veterinar-Geburtshiil/e, Hanover, 1S30. 



