376 BuuiiAU OF Farmers' Institutes. 



pumped into the udder with llie solution. The remaining portion 

 of the instrument consists of a bulb syringe (Fig. 3) to which is 

 attached a milking tube (4) which can readily be d^-tached for the 

 purpose of cleaning, previous to inserting the silver tube into the 

 teat. The bottle (No. 1), should be filled with the prepared solu- 

 tion ait 102 degrees F., and the syringe pumped full, which 

 also forces out the air, and as soon as the contents of the 

 bottle (No. 1) is emptied, the operation of the bulb should 

 cease, so as to avoid the introduction of air into the udder, 

 as air hastens decomposition and thus delajs recovery. Great 

 caution is also necessary to avoid the introduction of foreign 

 substances^ hay-seeds, etc., which may drop into the vessel con- 

 taining the medicine, as such will produce damaging results upon 

 the udder. Everything must be kept scrupulously clean to secure 

 the best results. Cut B shows the instrument in actual use with 

 the tube inserted into the teat and shown in the correct position in 

 the hands of the operator. 



Can the cow be given any treatment previous to parturition that will 

 prevent retention of placenta? 



Dr. Smead. — Before answering this question direct, it may be 

 well to call attention briefly to the generative organs of a cow. On 

 the lining membrane of the uterus may be found from 50 to 100 

 protuberances, or lumps, in farmers' parlance; after the cow be- 

 comes pregnant and a membrane or skin is formed about the em- 

 bryo calf, a similar lump or protuberance is formed on this mem- 

 brane adhering to the one on tlie membrane of the uterus. These, 

 in both cases, are called cotyledons. It is through their adhesion 

 that the calf is furnished nourishment in its foetal life from the 

 blood of the mother; when there are perfect normal conditions. 

 Soon after the calf leaves the uterus, nature, true to herself, breaks 

 loose these adhesions, and the placenta or after birth — another 

 name for what farmers call the cleanings — is expelled from the 

 uterus as it then has accomplished its office work in the develop- 

 ment of the foetus. We thus see that the retention of it beyond 

 from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, is due to some abnormal 



