Functions of the Generative Organs, 1 59 



milk and brandy was administered to the bitch. No other 

 birth took place, and she did well. 



When it becomes apparent that delivery by ordinary 

 means is altogether impossible, and it is desirable the off- 

 spring should be saved, the bitch either has to be killed, and 

 the whelps extracted by what is termed theCsesarean section 

 ("Gastro- Hysterotomy"), or the latter may be performed 

 during the mother's life, with the chance of hers also being 

 saved. This operation English veterinarians have rarely 

 practised. 



The following is a case I recorded in the "Veterinary 

 Journal," 1887: 



" This morning (the 15th July), between ten and eleven 

 o'clock, I was requested to attend an Irish setter bitch, 

 which, I was informed, had yesterday afternoon given birth 

 to one dead and three live puppies, and since eleven o'clock 

 last night had been in severe labour with what the owner 

 believed to be a ' cross-birth.' 



" When I arrived the bitch was lying prostrate, with 

 hurried respiration, rapid small pulse, eyes sunk, and ex- 

 tremities cold. On examination per vaginam, I found one 

 fore-leg of a whelp presented, and the head doubled back 

 within the womb. The leg in question had been so tugged 

 at that it was dislocated, and almost severed from the 

 shoulder ; the vaginal parts were extremely inflamed, being 

 of a deep purple tint and very swollen. After first ad- 

 ministering a little brandy and milk to my patient, I 

 placed a noose round the presented limb and returned it 

 within the womb, and then endeavoured to bring the head 

 into position, but without success. As the poor creature 

 was now so extremely exhausted, in fact, too weak to stand, 

 and the pains were very feeble and at long intervals, I sug- 

 gested — as the only chance for the mother, and also because 

 the offspring were valuable and several yet unborn — the 

 Ccssarean operation, which the owner consented to. 



