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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



thing to restore, with safety, to its proper place, owing 

 to the continual paining of the cow. It should be well 

 washed in warm water as quickly as possible, before it 

 has much time to swell. The herdsman should then, 

 with his doubled fist, proceed to push it into the 

 uterus, where it must be secured by strong ligatures 

 sown across the opening. The cow should have a strong 

 dose of laudanum, to quiet her for some hours, so that 

 the calf-bed may have time for the swelling to subside. 

 Subsequently, she should have a little warm water, with 

 some meal stirred in. This should be given repeatedly, 

 but sparingly, so as not to load the stomach. No heating 

 nor any purgative drenches should be given. The great 

 thing is, to keep the cow quiet. 



The discharge of the afterbirth is not of any great 

 moment. Cows partially exhausted by calving will be 

 a long time before they pain themselves so as to cause 

 the expulsion of the afterbirth. I have never known 

 any great harm arise from its remaining even for some 

 days. I had a cow calve on Saturday, the 16th inst. : 

 the afterbirth did not come away till Tuesday, the 19th 

 inst. ; but no harm ensues. The cow evidently tried to 

 save herself the pain it might cause her. Generally, 

 this " cleansing" comes away, without much effort on 

 the part of the cow, in a fesv hours. It may be left to 

 its natural chance for several days. Should it become 

 necessary to draw it away, a veterinary surgeon should 

 be employed to do it, as it is generally owing to some 

 unknown adhesion or growth to the womb. 



When the cow has had a protracted and difficult calv- 

 ing time, she will require careful treatment. In common 

 * natural cases she will soon be all right ; but in difficult 

 cases brushing of the belly and loins with a wisp is ser- 

 viceable— gentle v/alking exercise for a short time in 

 fine weather. Gruels and cordial drinks should also 

 occasionally be given. The latter might consist of a 

 quart of ale mixed with sugar or treacle, and diluted 

 with water, to be given warm. The old " cow-leech's" 

 drench is, 1 oz. aniseed powdered, 1 oz. sulphur ditto, 

 1 oz. liquorice ditto, 1 oz. diapeute ditto, 1 oz. long 

 pepper, given in a quart of warm ale. She must have 

 her warm water mixed with a little meal, as above stated. 

 Should fever intervene, it is best to send for the veteri- 

 nary surgeon, and commit the case to his care. It is 

 important not to confound the weakness which depends 

 upon exhaustion with that which depends upon oppres- 

 sion only. The former requires medical treatment, the 

 latter may be restored by cordials and suitable food, &c. 

 The former will require most probably bleeding and 

 cooling drinks, and possibly emollient clysters. 



Cows after calving should be carefully fed with nutri- 

 tious food, in small quantities often repeated j and it is 

 certainly best to give cooked or boiled food, as it pre- 

 vents more generally indigestion and flatulent cholic. 

 At all events sweet and easily digested food should be 

 given, or material injury may arise. Should the udder 

 swell from excess of milk, or the incapacity of the calf 

 to draw it all away, frequent milking is requisite, and It 



should be hand-rubbed well, with frequent washings of 

 warm water and soft soap, or with warm bran water. 

 The teats occasionally become sore : the same applica- 

 tions should be resorted to, and, in addition, a little lard, 

 olive oil, or even cream, should be gently rubbed on, 

 particularly in cases of pustules arising, or scab. I trust 

 these simple rules and hastily drawn up remarks may be 

 useful ; but if they only have the effect of calling a little 

 more attention to this much- neglected department of 

 farm practice, I shall be abundantly satisfied. 



