540 OBSTETRICAL OPEEATIONS. 



bring these together with sufficient force to divide the strongest pieces 

 of bone. 



In the foregoing, allusion has only been made to the instruments which 

 are generally approved of ; many more might have been described, but no 

 particular advantage could have been derived by doing so. A multitude 

 of instruments can only be embarrassing to the veterinary obstetrist. 

 Besides, it must be confessed that too little attention has been devoted 

 to the perfecting of those already in use, or to devising others more 

 simple and efticient to supplant them. There is here a wide field still 

 open for those who desire to cultivate a most important department of 

 veterinary surgery. 



Instruments necessary for particular operations will be referred to as 

 these are described. 



Preliminary Arrangements for Embryotomy. 



There is not much to arrange before commencing embryotomy. The 

 operator is supposed to have made an exploration of the genital passage, 

 and to have ascertained the state of affairs ; he may even have attempted 

 everything possible in the way of extraction and failed. Being satisfied 

 that nothing remains to be done to preserve the life of the parent but re- 

 moving the foetus piecemeal, he has to decide, from the nature of the 

 case, how this is to be effected. The necessary instruments he may 

 have with him, or they may be devised on the spot ; if the case is more 

 difficult than usual, they may have to be sent for. But, as a rule, the 

 operator must utilise to the best of his ability whatever is to hand ; as 

 he usually finds his patient greatly exhausted, either from protracted 

 labour or the mischievous meddling of untutored hands. 



The animal must be detached from the manger or rack, and kept, if 

 possible, in a standing attitude : this position being the one best suited 

 for such an operation, or it may be tied by the head to a stake, by a 

 rather long head-rope. A rope, or better still, a rug or blanket, should 

 be passed round the hind-quarters, a little above the hocks, the ends 

 being held by assistants standing towards the shoulders of the animal. 

 This precaution is required to steady the creature, to keep it in a stand- 

 ing position, and to assist it in resisting the traction generally employed 

 in removing the foetus. It may be necessary, if the animal is much 

 exhausted or suffering much pain, to administer a stimulant, meal or 

 flour gruel, or an anodyne draught. 



Ckaniotomy or Cephalotomy, 



Every operation which has for its object the diminution in size of the 

 cranium, when that part offers an obstacle to the passage of the foetus, 

 is designated by these names. Hydrocephalus is the condition which 

 most frequently calls for the operation in the larger animals ; though 

 certain malformations and monstrosities, and even an exaggerated 

 volume of the head of the foetus in the Bitch or Cat, may also re- 

 quire it. 



Craniotomy comprises several distinct operations, which may be 

 performed independently or simultaneously. These are simple pnncturej 

 incision, or crushing of the cranial parietes {Ceplialotripsy). 



