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DOG DOCTORING BY DOG-FANCIERS. 
Proposed giving her a clyster, but the dog-fancier would not 
countenance the idea. Would it not have been better, instead of 
introducing the instrument or middle finger, to have used the 
thumb and forefinger with lard, to widen the passage, or to break 
open the way ? J. B. H. 
Answers to the Queries. 
The age was no objection to the bitch having pups, notwith- 
standing she had never been pregnant before. Prior to any sort of 
operation being resolved upon, it is the business of the accoucheur 
to ascertain whether the foetus be alive or dead, and what power 
the mother yet retains to bring it forth ; in this she may be assisted 
by medicine — in particular by the ergot of rye. 
It being certain that she cannot bring forth without surgical aid, 
the finger, or finger and thumb, according as required or as prac- 
ticable, may be employed. These failing, the blunt hook or crochet 
may be tried, or the forceps. Such a dangerous instrument as is de- 
scribed by our correspondent would in no case be justifiably made 
use of; particularly by hands apparently so incompetent as those 
that held it in the case in question. “The piece of flesh” brought 
away was probably part of the placenta, and the bitch seems to 
have sunk through haemorrhage. 
The catastrophe will be a warning to J. B. H. another time to 
resort to professional aid. “ Dog-fanciers” are not necessarily “ dog- 
doctors.” They may be compared to grooms, who pretend to know 
as much about the horse in sickness as in health, and so impose 
upon their unwary employers; either killing the animal through 
maltreating his diseases, or ruining him for life, through mistaking 
the seat and nature of his lamenesses. This may be getting 
veterinary medicine cheap ; but the patients are very apt to suffer 
for it, and, in the end, their masters very apt to pay for it. We 
know of but one work, “ The Dog,” by Youatt, which contains any 
account of such cases. Ed. Yet. 
