Diseases of the Generative System. 219 
exploration with the forefinger well oiled, will usually 
suffice to indicate the state of affairs; more than this 
will often induce severe fever, and interruption to the 
natural process. Removal of feces and urine by 
assisted means, or the use of a warm enema, may 
conduce to a more favourable state by affording room 
for the foetus. As a rule, direct interference for the 
removal of the pups is not called for; when it otherwise 
happens, the services of an experienced canine surgeon 
should be secured, especially when the sufferer is 
valuable. Abnormal positions, as a rile, occur when the - 
pup approaches the vaginal passage, where its progress is 
impeded by various causes, but finally yields to the 
application of various forms of traction. This should be 
always and only exerted during the natural throes, 
_ otherwise the strength of the patient may be exhausted. 
The presentation of one forefoot only, when the head is 
properly placed may not prevent delivery, providing 
good hold is obtained. Unusually large heads sometimes 
prove insurmountable, and such call for reduction before 
delivery can be effected. As traction agents, a piece of 
tape, or small cord, a loop of wire, &c, have 
frequently done good service in the absence of direct 
suitable instruments; but the canine surgeon has his 
répertoire from which he can make useful selection. 
After-treatment of the Patient consists of careful 
feeding, avoidance of excess or deficiency, good beds, 
comfortable quarters, &c., above all taking care that the 
mother has no more pups than she can properly find 
milk for. Any excess of these should be suckled by a 
foster-mother. But this requires great care, otherwise 
the milk so conveyed may contain the seeds of some 
constitutional taint, by which the hopes of the owner 
may be grievously frustrated. Should any objection be 
made by the foster-mother towards the stranger, it is a 
common practice to remove her own pups temporarily, 
and present the stranger over which her milk has been 
sprinkled. It also happens occasionally that the natural 
mother will devour the foetal membranes or “ cleansing,” 
so-called, and the morbid appetite may also extend to 
