148 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
my finger in the vagina. I soon detected a relaxation of its 
walls, and by gradual traction, encouraged only once by a 
feeble pain, I extracted the whelp, an unnaturally large one. 
A little brandy was given to the bitch, after which she was 
rubbed dry, placed in a basket, and made comfortable. Ina 
short time a dose of ergot was administered, the pains 
returned, and the birth of three more whelps took place . 
without mechanical assistance. 
Mr. Mayhew exhibits a like prejudice to the ergot of rye 
in promoting uterine contraction, and in this opinion he is 
not alone. Again, however, I am at variance with him and 
his disciples. We have had abundant proofs of the value 
of this agent in parturition, and of the evils of it in pregnant 
cattle by procuring abortion which could be traced to no 
other cause, not to doubt its power; and independent of 
the evidence of eminent veterinarians and medical men as 
to its efficacy, I have that of my own tests, which in no 
single case have been attended with failure. In protracted 
labour, then, with weak throes, I strongly recommend the 
ergot with stimulants. 
After parturition the bitch requires but little attention, 
quietude is generally all that need be observed; the custom 
of continually inspecting the offspring and removing the 
bed is injudicious, the natural instinct of the mother 
teaches her to do all that is necessary, and however kind 
our intentions may be, she is jealous of any interference 
and prefers to be left alone with her family. (See “ Influence 
of Mental Emotion on Canine Lactation.”) 
In continuance of the subject, the means used to deliver 
bitches in unnatural parturition are various. From Mr. 
Fleming’s able work on “ Veterinary Obstetrics” I extract 
the following, and if more information on the subject is 
required, I refer my readers to the book in question. 
“With regard to the smaller animals, such as the bitch, 
sow, sheep, and goat, in them we may often use the crochet, 
the ordinary forceps, or a small-sized model of the human 
