156 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
“When our assistance has been sought for in time, we 
have generally managed, expeditiously and easily, to 
extract the puppies alive. It will be seen that the noose 
is not unlike the ‘fillet’ used in human obstetrics.” 
FIG. 19. 
THE CROTCHET. 
The crotchet, or blunt hook, has been recommended by 
some authorities as an efficient obstetrical instrument. 
Mayhew observes with regard to its use: 
“Tt has been long known to the human accoucheur, but 
by him is not employed save under certain conditions. A 
piece of stout steel wire constitutes its substance. The 
wire, about twelve inches long, is flattened at one ex- 
tremity, and both ends crooked and made perfectly smooth 
or blunt, the flattened hook being the larger of the two. 
For the dog, the instrument must, of course, be propor- 
tioned to the passage into which it is to be introduced, and 
as the pup, in consequence of the weakness of the abdomi- 
nal 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 instru- 
ment 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 favourably placed, the hook (and I generally 
use the flattened extremity of the instrument) is to be 
pushed forward and then retracted, until the operator is 
aware that a firm hold has been obtained. The purchase 
