VETERINARY OBSTETRICS. 
315 
forming embryotomy, and which have hitherto not been laid down by any 
British writer. Then another class of severe cases includes those in which, 
to save the foal, the mare has to be destroyed. However rare these cases 
may be, it is just possible that the birth of a foal, by a particular stallion, 
may be of more importance than the life of the mare. It is in this class of 
cases that the Caesarean operation is alone justifiable, the chances of recovery 
in the mare being no more than when bleeding to death or dividing the 
spinal cord. Though deadly in all animals, this operation is constantly 
fatal in the mare, either shortly after its performance, from shock, or a few 
days after, from incurable peritonitis. Lastly, there are the severe cases 
which, like those recorded by myself, must prove fatal, either in consequence 
of the bungling of empirics, or delay in attempting delivery; and lastly, 
from the absence of instruments which are recognised as essential in many 
such instances. 
“ If I may be permitted to draw some general conclusions bearing on the 
whole subject of veterinary obstetrics, I should say that recent discussions 
afford the best proof that this branch of veterinary science, if possible, more 
than others, has been neglected in Great Britain. It has been neglected 
both as a science and as an art. Asa science, I have only to draw your 
attention to the absence of any treatise on the subject of parturition in the 
lower animals. All that refers to the anatomy of the female generative 
organs, and the phenomena of pregnancy, &c., has not only not been written 
on, but not taught with any precision. Allow me to draw your attention 
to that very important and very difficult science, regarded as almost useless 
by veterinarians, many teachers iucluded, and a complete acquaintance with 
what is essential as a branch of obstetric knowledge. I refer to teratology, 
or the history of monstrosities. But some individuals, when accused of 
ignorance in science, claim skill in art, and descant on their success in 
practice. When I first came to Scotland, the obstetric instruments that 
had hitherto been used, and those sold by only one veterinary instrument 
maker, amounted to three or four, and two out of the number little better 
than useless. The common hooks were so constructed as to be absolutely 
useless. Bor every instrument then used I have introduced half a dozen, 
and it is my intention to lay before this society, if I may be permitted, on 
some future occasion, a complete collection of instruments which have been 
devised in different countries to facilitate the operations of the veterinary 
surgeon in cases of difficult labour. The common experience of veterina¬ 
rians throughout the country, at all events, so far as I have ascertained it, 
is, that much requires to be done in order to render success in these a mat¬ 
ter of much greater certainty than it has hitherto been. 
“ I might here institute some interesting comparisons between human and 
veterinary obstetrics, one branch of which presents more difficulties in the 
latter than in the former, and that is, delivery in cases of difficult labour. 
With some animals, such as the sheep and dog, in which forceps can be used, 
delivery is commonly certain and speedily effected; but whereas the lower 
animals more rarely need assistance than the human female, in the latter the 
operation of delivery in cases of false presentation does not present the same 
difficulties. 
“ In conclusion, gentlemen, allow me to say that I estimate it a con¬ 
siderable privilege to have an opportunity such as that which this association 
alone can afford a veterinary surgeon in Great Britain, viz., to meet a body 
of veterinary practitioners, and obtain the judgment of that body on any 
practical question. In this particular instance I am well aware that your 
opinion can alone coincide with that of the gentleman whose letters I have 
read, and with whom I perfectly agree, llegarding the one point, of putting 
an end to an animal’s sufferings when the chances of its recovery were gone, 
