FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 145 



The first throes are generally short and somewhat weak, 

 but as labor proceeds they become stronger, longer, and more 

 frequent. 



When we are satisfied the bitch is unable of herself to 

 parturate, an examination should be carefully made with the 

 finger per vaginam. If a whelp is in the passage, with the 

 head and fore-feet presented, traction should be made on both. 

 If tail first, on the hind feet. If it is a breech-presentation, 

 which rarely happens, the hind leg should be secured and held 

 firmly, while the stern is pushed back. Delivery will usually 

 easily follow. 



In cases where the passage is small, and the parts powerfully 

 contracted, the warm bath is an invaluable aid. Mr. Mayhew, 

 in one of his poetic flights of fancy, strongly condemns this 

 measure. He however appears to have forgotten, in his 

 arguments against it, that the contractions of the uterus, under 

 some circumstances, prove an obstacle to the removal of its 

 contents. Uterine inflammation, which he mentions as a 

 consequence of the warm bath, is far more likely to result 

 from neglected and rough assistance than the application of 

 warm water. The probability of the animal not surviving if 

 retained in it for an unlimited period, might reasonably be 

 expected, but with discretion on the part of the surgeon no 

 evil result may be feared. In fact my own experience on 

 this point is in exact opposition to the above authors. I 

 select the following from my list in illustration. A small, 

 rough toy terrier, several years old, was brought for my at- 

 tention in parturition. She had been in labor since the ■ 

 previous day, and it was her first pregnancy. The passage 

 was too small to insert more than the tip of the little finger ; 

 there were no pains, but the diagnostic foetal smell was 

 emitted. After admmistering a stimulant, I inserted a very 

 small forceps, and succeeded in laying hold of one foot, and 

 subsequently the other, but to no purpose — the whelp was 

 fixed. I then placed the bitch in a warm bath, keeping my 

 finger in the vagina. I soon detected a relaxation of its walls, 



