CASE OF EMBRYOTOMY. 
347 
bring* the head and the neck into a more favourable situation. I 
then thought that the parturition might be effected by bringing 
forward the hind limbs; but I was unable to seize them, for 
they were deep in one of the horns of the uterus. Almost despair¬ 
ing of success, I next endeavoured to extract the foetus by pull¬ 
ing violently at the fore limbs, but the bending of the head and 
neck offered an insurmountable obstacle ; and my only recourse 
to save the mother w as to cut the calf in pieces. 
Veterinarians who have had occasion to practise this operation 
know how difficult it is to avoid wounding the uterus, because 
the mother generally struggles violently, and the presence of the 
hand in the uterus causes strong contractions of that viscus; and 
because, after protracted labours, and where much force has been 
used, the mucous membrane of the uterus is usually injected and 
thickened. The operator, likewise, in endeavouring to avoid 
wounding the animal, often seriously wounds himself. 
To avoid these accidents, or to diminish the frequency of their 
occurrence, I constructed a simple instrument. It consisted of 
a handle or case, containing a cfouble-edged blade, and which 
might be retracted or pushed out at pleasure by means of a 
spring. It is easy to perceive the advantages which this instru¬ 
ment offers. The operator can introduce it into the vagina and 
uterus w ithout any risk of w ounding the beast or himself; he can 
assure himself of the precise situation of the foetus, and the parts 
which he wishes to divide, and then project the blade and com¬ 
mence the dissection. If the mother struggles violently, or his 
arm is embarrassed by the strong contraction of the uterus, he 
can retract the blade, and wait until the spasm is past, or the ani¬ 
mal is more quiet; and he can replace the blade in the handle, 
before he withdraws his arm from the uterus, w hen the operation 
is concluded. 
I thought this a favourable opportunity to use my instrument. 
I amputated the left shoulder of the foetus, in spite of the difficul¬ 
ties which the position of the head and neck presented. Having 
withdrawn this limb, I made an incision through all the cartilages 
of the ribs, and laid open the chest through its w hole extent; by 
means of which I w as enabled to extract all the thoracic viscera. 
Thus, having lessened the size of the calf, I was enabled, by 
pulling at the remaining fore-leg, to extract the foetus without 
much resistance, although the head and neck were still bent 
upon the chest. The after-birth was extracted immediately 
afterwards. 
The mother was very much exhausted. I ordered that she 
should be well covered, that a bottle of warm red wine should 
