76 GUIDE TO DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA 



short, otherwise when entering the hand into the 

 womb they may cause an internal injury. Re- 

 member also, when putting weight on the foetus to 

 draw it out, to draw forwards and downwards. 

 Also remember that it is unwise to interfere with 

 the cow too soon. Only assist by the above means 

 when it is seen that the cow cannot calve for some 

 reason or other. 



Inversion of the Womb. 



This is commonly seen in cows, when the womb 

 turns inside out and hangs down behind the animal. 

 The chief danger is the inflammation of the womb, 

 followed by the death of the animal. This is 

 usually seen after a difficult case of calving where 

 the mother is continually straining. 



Treatment. Reduce the inversion as soon as 

 possible by putting it back. If the membranes or 

 after-birth are attached to the womb remove them 

 and disinfect the womb carefully. Then put a 

 clean sheet under the organ and put two boys on 

 each side to lift it. Get your closed fist in the most 

 dependent part and try to pass it through the 

 projecting womb back through the passage it came 

 out of and back into the abdomen, working very 

 gently and trying to pass in any loose folds which 

 form at the mouth of the womb back again into the 

 abdomen. 



If the animal is straining it is often useful to 



