be employed to keep the foetus from
escaping, by pushing it against or towards the point of the
crotchet, and holding it there. Traction is now made
steadily and in the proper direction; and the assistant at
the same time, by manipulating the belly, facilitates the
delivery of the bitch, which should be in a standing
position--not upon its back.

"The directions are not very complex, but they must not on
that account be disregarded. By introducing the finger, and
taking care that its extremity corresponds with the point of
the instrument, a great object is gained by securing the pup
more firmly: yet there are other advantages also obtained by
this mode of operating. The head of the foetus is generally
too large for the vagina, and hence the difficulty of its
expulsion; but by the employment of an instrument which is
simultaneously to pass, we appear to be increasing the
obstruction: however, by compressing the head with the end
of the finger, it is in some degree forced to conform to the
diameter of the passage, which the gelatinous development of
the pup at the time of birth readily enables it to do.
Moreover, the hazard of injury being done, if the instrument
should lose its hold, is guarded against; for should the
hook slip, the point would be received upon the end of the
finger before it could catch the soft parts. However, the
operator will feel the hold giving way long before it is
entirely lost, and will be enabled to rectify the occurrence
in the majority of cases before there is a chance of
accident. The finger, therefore, becomes a sensible guide to
the operator, and by its employment the traction is rendered
more firm and steady. But above all, care should be taken to
have the instrument perfectly blunt, and the beaks of the
hooks not too long. A sharp point might, at the first
glance, seem more likely to answer the purpose in view; but
its employment would be attended with danger, and on being
tested, it would be found more apt to tear away. In fact,
the sharper the point, the less firm would be the hold,
since the substance to be secured is somewhat of a pulpy
nature; whereas, by using as broad and flat a point as
possible, the force is exerted on a larger surface, and the
grasp is proportionably the more likely to be retained; the
object being