PREFACE. 



Whatever apology may be due the American veterinary pro- 

 fession for the imperfections of this volume, the author does not 

 deem it necessary to apologize for considering desirable a treat- 

 ise upon Veterinary Obstetrics, and the diseases and accidents 

 intimately associated therewith. 



In American veterinary colleges, and largely in the veterinary 

 colleges of the world, obstetrics is the most poorly and ineffi- 

 ciently taught of all the major subjects in the veterinary curri- 

 culum. The available obstetric literature in the English language 

 is very unsatisfactory. The author believes that the chief ques- 

 tion affecting this treatise is not the need for a comprehensive 

 volume upon Veterinary obstetrics and the closely related sub- 

 jects, but the efficiency of the volume to partly supply that need. 



We have felt warranted in introducing features which are not 

 usually included in treatises upon obstetrics. We have devoted 

 a chapter to the " Accidents and Injuries of Coition," A yet 

 greater space has been devoted to the " Infections of Coition", 

 especially to the specific venereal infections. Still more em- 

 phasis has been placed upon the subject of sterility. 



The writer desires to heartily express his sense of profound 

 obligation to the various authors and publishers upon whose 

 publications, with their kind permission, free draft has been 

 made for illustrations and material for the text. It has been 

 aimed, at the proper places, to give due credit for the source of 

 the material used. 



Special mention is due to the authors and publishers of the 

 treatises on Embryology by Bonnet, Heisler and Marshall ; the 

 Obstetrics of St. Cyr and Violet, Harms, Franck, DeBruin, and 

 Fleming ; the Teratology of Gurlt ; and the Handbook of Surgery 

 and Obstetrics by Bayer and Frohner. 



The author is under specially deep obligations to Professor 

 Doctor E. Hess, of the Berne Veterinary School, for his courtesy 



