462 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
SYMPTOMS OF CALVIXG. 
In the cow the premonitions of calving are the enlargement of the 
udder, which becomes firm and resistant to the touch, with more or less 
swelling in front, and yields a serious milky fluid; the enlargement and 
swelling of the vulva, which discharges an abundant stringy mucus; the 
drooping of the belly, and the falling in of the muscles at each side of the 
root of the tail, so as to leave deep hollows. When this last symptom is 
seen calving may be counted on in twenty-four hours or in two or three 
days. When the act is imminent, the cow becomes uneasy, moves rest- 
lessly, leaves off eating, in the field leaves the herd, lies down and rises 
again as if in pain, shifts upon her hind feet, moves the tail, and may 
bellow or moan. When labor pains come on the back is arched, the croup 
drooped, the belly is drawn up, and straining is more or less violent and 
continuous. Meanwhile blood may have appeared on the vulva and tail, 
and soon the the clear water bags protrude between the lips of the vulva. 
They increase rapidly, hanging down toward the hocks, and the fore 
or hind feet can be detected within them. With the rupture of the bags 
and escape of the waters the womb contracts on the solid angular body 
of the fetus and is at once stimulated to more violent contractions, so 
that the work proceeds with redoubled energy to the complete expulsion. 
This is the reason why it is wrong to rupture the water bags if the pre- 
sentation is normal, as they furnish a soft, uniform pressure for the pre- 
liminary dilation of the mouth of the womb and passages, in anticipation 
of the severe strain put upon them as the solid body of the calf passes. 
The cow often calves standing, in which case the navel string is broken 
as the calf falls to the ground. If, however, she is recumbent, this cord is 
torn through as she rises up. The afterpains come on three or four hours 
later and expel the membranes, which should never be left longer than 
twenty-four hours. 
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASES. 
This disease is also known as epizootica aphtha, aphthous fever, in- 
fectious aphtha, eczma epizootica, and may be defined as an acute, highly 
contagious fever of a specific nature, characterized by the eruption of vesi- 
cles, or blisters, in the mouth, around the coronets of the feet, and between 
the toes. 
The tremendous ravages of the disease are seen in the number and 
variety of species attacked. While it may be regarded as essentially a 
disease of cattle, hogs would seem to be as easy a prey. Almost in 
the same grade of receptivity come sheep and goats. Next in order of 
liabilty come the buffalo, American bison, camel, deer, chamois, Llama, 
giraffe, and antelope. Horses, dogs, cats, and even poultry have been 
victims of the infection, the last three classes being particularly dan- 
gerous as carriers of the contagion. Man himself is not immune, and 
the frequency of his infection by coming in contact with the diseased 
animals themselves is established by numerous observations. Children 
suffer as a result of drinking the unboiled milk from infected animals. 
There is fever and difficulty in swallowing, followed by an eruption of 
