188 THE DISEASES 0E THE DOG. 



apt to be in the bull and pug breeds, Cepkalotomy may be 

 tried and tbe excessive size of the skull reduced after 

 evacuation of its contents by puncture or incision. Many 

 positions of the foetus which need adjustment in the 

 larger animals are manageable by direct traction in the 

 carnivore. This traction must be gentle and only at the 

 time of the throes ; the limbs may sometimes be secured 

 by a loop of worsted, but Mayhew' s parturition instrument 

 is preferable. He urges that the worsted skein sometimes 

 cuts through the limb to which it is fastened, and when 

 introduced into the vagina it soon becomes moist, adheres 

 to the finger and cannot be detached from it; whereas 

 pliable wire does not become moist and is readily adjustable. 



Pia. 49. — Parturition Instrument (Mayhew). 



The instrument consists of a tube of polished metal which 

 is at one end curved to suit the line of the pelvis, and at 

 the other is grooved and has a small cross-bar. Into the 

 tube a piece of zinc wire is introduced, so as to double and 

 form a loop at the bent extremity, the ends of the wire 

 coming forth at the other. One of the ends of the wire 

 is twisted into the groove so as to render it fast ; and 

 that being done the instrument may when required be 

 introduced with the loop of wire upon the point of the 

 finger, and, the paw it is to be desired to fix being felt, 

 the finger is withdrawn and the instrument moved forward. 

 The free end of the wire is then pulled to render the 

 hold firm, after which it is twisted round the projecting bar 

 and made secure. The tube assists us in guiding the 

 loop, which, being once fixed, can be made secure, and so 

 traction does not afterwards further tighten it (Mayhew, 



