266 BOVINE OBSTETEICS 



heart-shaped portion of the spatula shows a notch laterally. 

 This acts like a sharp hook when the instrument is retracted. 

 The curved spatula is mainly used to skin the head 

 (fig. 53.) 



Figs. 51, 53, 53. — Large, Heart-shaped and Curved Spatulas. 



The skin knife, one of the most useful instruments, is 

 used in the removal of the fore and hind legs and when the 

 skin is to be cut within the vulva. It consists of an iron rod 

 with a handle on the lower end. The other end exhibits two 

 lips of unequal length ; between them is a knife with the 

 cutting edge upwards (fig. 54). 



Fig. 54. — Skinning Knife. 



"When using it the large lip is placed into the skin wound 

 in the direction in which the skin is to be split. The inserted 

 end of the instrument is covered with the left hand, and by 

 pushing the instrument with the right hand the skin is cut. 

 While cutting, an assistant tightens the leg. 



Hooks are often used in embryotomy either to tear or ex- 

 tract certain parts of the body. At the same time no hooks 

 are used when the same result can be obtained by cording the 

 parts. Short and long hooks, blunt or sharp, are employed. 

 The short hooks, 12 cm. long, have a ring on the straight 



