6oo 



Veterinary Obstetrics 



operator with a small hand cannot guard the ordinary finger- 

 knife in such a way that he can readily introduce it to the point 

 where he desires to work. We have been compelled to have 

 finger-knives constructed to order, because of this difficulty. 

 The blade of the finger-knife should be of such a length that, 

 when it is placed upon the finger, the hand can close about it in 

 such a way as to protect the point completely, with safety alike 

 to the operator and to the patient. 



Fig. 95. Finger Knives. 



a, Full-curved obstetric knife. 



b, Half- curved obstetric knife. 



c, Karl's embryotomy knife. 



d, Giinther's embryotomy knife. 



e, Vienna embryotomy knife. 



f, Danish embryotomy knife, with 



detachable blades of various 

 patterns. 



The types of these finger-knives. Fig. 95, are exceedingly vari- 

 able, but the simpler ones a and b, are perhaps as efficient as any 

 after the operator once becomes accustomed to them, though we 

 would not say they are superior to the many other types. These 

 instruments admit chiefly of incisions in a line parallel to the long 

 axis of the operator's hand and arm, and cannot very well be used 

 for section in a transverse direction. If we take one of the finger- 

 knives with but a single ring, which is larger than the finger, it 

 may be turned more or less obliquely across the hand and, by 

 bending the hand somewhat also, we may be enabled to make a 

 transverse incision. 



Scalpels. We also find a very extensive list of scalpels or 

 bistouries with straight handles, the blades of which may be 



