ong, there is danger, and
at every hazard delivery must be accomplished. There will, however, then
only be a distant chance of success; and where these indications have been
remarked, the life of the mother has generally been lost. If a portion of
the litter has been born, and, on the appearance of the symptoms just
described, the pups refuse to suck, and when placed to the teats turn from
them, the termination will be fatal. The milk seems to have lost its
inviting properties, and to be rendered disgusting by the approach of
death; and the sign is as conclusive as the departure of vermin from the
carcase of an animal.

Forcible delivery is to be accomplished by every means in our power; for
it is undertaken only when hope by ordinary process is despaired of.
Forceps of any kind, however, are to be employed with extreme care. These
instruments are always dangerous in the bitch; as we cannot see, and can
but imperfectly feel, so there is little guide to their proper use. The
crochet, a blunt hook--and for the dog it can hardly be too blunt--is to
be preferred. As I have before submitted to the public my opinion of this
instrument, I here extract from a paper which appeared in _The
Veterinarian_ for February, 1847:--

[Illustration: THE CROCHET.]

"I was obliged to meet my pupils in the evening, and was not
sorry to leave a case which had now, in my mind, become
hopeless; but as I walked, I could not forbear thinking of
that which had occupied most of my attention during the day.
The different instruments employed to facilitate the labors
of different animals passed in review before me; but some
were not applicable to the dog, and others could not be
manufactured with sufficient speed to benefit my present
patient. The crochet, used with such power by the human
practitioner, seemed the one most likely to avail; indeed,
it had often before occurred to me, that an adaptation of
this instrument would, in our hands, be of infinite service;
and, after I had dismissed my class, I hurried to procure
what I had conceived would be useful. Mr. Perry, to whom I
applied, had a human crotchet in his shop, and this he
consented to alter according to my directions. I stayed till
the alterations were completed, and by eleven at night
reached home, to put the adaptation of the crotchet to the
test. It answered beyond my utmost expectation, and I was
enabl