EQUIPMENT FOR OBSTETRIC WORK. 



In order to succeed iu obstetric work, the veterinarian must 

 be judiciously equipped for it, not only from the standpoint of 

 quantity and quality, but also in reference to the readiness of his 

 equipment for immediate use. The obstetric equipment of the 

 veterinarian should be carefully selected and arranged, should 

 include every article which is likely to be needed during any 

 obstetric operation, and should be carefully packed in one or more 

 containers ready for immediate transportation, so that no article 

 of importance will be left behind or forgotten. 



The instruments of the veterinary obstetrist should be ample 

 in number, simple in character, and efiBcient for any operation 

 or manipulation which he may possibly be called upon to per- 

 form. Obstetric instruments are of the greatest possible design 

 and variety, and it is not practicable for us to enter into detail in 

 relation to the multitudinous varieties which have been proposed 

 by various operators and writers. 



Obstetrical instruments are intended to aid in, or to accomplish 

 three distinct offices : traction, repulsion and incision or excision. 



For the production of traction, the appliances most frequently 

 used are cords, bands, halters, hooks, forceps and nooses. 



Cords and bands are of every possible description and variety 

 and may be either very simple or quite complex. Usually speak- 

 ing the simplest are the best for two important reasons. One 

 may accomplish with simply a looped cord any operation which 

 is possible with the most complex. When one operation with a 

 cord, band or halter has been carried out, the apparatus is of 

 no further value for obstetric uses, but becomes a danger in suc- 

 ceeding cases, which is to be constantly avoided by the destruc- 

 tion of the apparatus after a single use, and this means an im- 

 portant expense in case of complex appliances. 



We prefer the simple, cotton cord, Fig. 91a, about ^ inch in 

 diameter and 4 feet in length, one end to be wound with strong 

 thread to prevent ravelling, while at the other a spliced loop is 

 formed of sufficient size to permit the cord to play through it 

 freely. It is not advantageous to have all these of uniform size 

 because, in some instances where the traction is not to be 

 severe, a smaller cord than ^ in. may be more easily applied 

 and retain its hold more securely upon a part. In some cases it 



