DOGS : THEIll MANAGKMEKT. 387 



the majority were dead ; indeed, though safe to the 

 mother, the instrument is apt to be fatal to the offspring. 

 The numbers stand thus : — Dead when extracted, 7 ; 

 mutilated when brought forth, and immediately destroyed, 

 1 ; alive, 1. Thus the proportions are as 8 to 1 against 

 the probability of saving the pups ; but it must be remem- 

 bered that the calculation is made from the cases of which 

 the majority were, by previous delay, rendered hopeless, 

 and under fairer circumstances the result might have been 

 different. 



" I will now proceed to describe the crotchet, and 

 explain the manner in which I have employed that instru- 

 ment. It has been long known to the human accoucheur, 

 but by him is not employed save imder certain condi- 

 tions. A piece of stout steel wire constitutes its substance. 

 The wire, about twelve inches long, is flattened at one 

 extremity, and both ends crooked and made perfectly 

 smooth or blunt, the flattened hook being the larger of 

 the two. Tor the dog, the instrument must, of course, be 

 proportioned to the passage into which it is to be intro- 

 duced ; and as the pup, in consequence of the weakness 

 of the abdominal parietes in the bitch, often is felt lying 

 below the level of the symphysis, a dip or lateral bend is 

 given to the hooks. 



" So simple is the crotchet, which ought to be highly 

 polished, in order to secure its being perfectly smooth. It 

 is first warmed and greased, then introduced with the 

 index finger of one hand, while the other guides the 

 instrument into the womb. The foetus is to be first felt, 

 and this is the more readily done if an assistant supports 

 and compresses the abdomen. When the finger has 

 ascertained that the pup is favorably placed, the hook 

 (and I generally use the flattened extremity of the instru- 

 ment) is to be pushed forward and then retracted, until 



