Functions of the Generative Organs. 159 
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 the Cesarean 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 
Casavean operation, which the owner consented to, 
