Functions of the Generative Organs. 153 



head of the foetus a trifle less, it will be seen that birth 

 must necessarily be difificult ; and this difficulty will be in- . 

 creased if the vagina is narrow and rigid. When the forceps 

 is used, tlie difficulty is further exaggerated ; for when the 

 blades are passed on the head, the foetus is then augmented 

 in size by a quantity equal to their breadth, multiplied by 

 their thickness, the whole constituting a mass greater 

 than the pelvic cavity will permit to , pass through it, so 

 that delivery becomes impossible. 



" Forceps, therefore, in small bitches, increase the diffi- 

 culties of parturition, and those difficulties are all the more 

 embarrassing as the animal is diminutive. Recourse to 

 this instrument is consequently contra- indicated, and if 

 delivery is to be effected, a means must be substituted which 

 presents less inconvenience. 



" As a rule, the loss of one or two puppies is hot a matter 

 of much moment, the principal object being to save the 

 mother by bringing the act of parturition to a prompt ter- 

 mination. The desideratum is to apply an apparatus which 

 will exert its force behind the head of the foetus, as if the 

 sum of expulsive efforts was directed from behind ; or as 

 if a new force had been developed in the uterine cavity, 

 which presses directly on the summit of the head. 



" After much consideration, Defays finally produced an 

 apparatus which fulfils these indications, and, besides its 

 ingenuity, is very simple, and easily applied. It consists 

 merely of two rather fine brass, or very pliable iron, wires 

 which can be easily twisted, and are yet strong enough to 

 withstand a moderate amount of strain. The wires should 

 be at least sixteen inches in length, and looped in the 

 middle, so as to be applied to the foetus in the following 

 manner : The first finger of the left hand being passed 

 into the vagina, serves to guide one of the loops towards 

 the summit of and behind the foetal head, and it then con- 

 ducts the loop of the other wire beneath the head behind 

 the jaw. This done, the two wires on each side are twisted 



