AND CATTLE DOCTOR. 105 



but weak efforts for the expulsion of the after-birth or 

 cleansings. 



The after-birth, or 'placenta^ is a large bladder which 

 encloses the calf in the womb ; and being a body for- 

 eign, after delivery, to the cow herself, it cannot re- 

 main without the most serious consequences to her. A 

 quick expulsion of the after-birth, however, although 

 very desirable, is not an essential condition of a good 

 or natural calving. In general, when cows go their 

 full natural time, and the delivery happens without 

 accident, the after-birth comes away with scarcely any 

 effort of the cow, in about from two to fifteen hours, 

 more or less. These efforts are not always the same ; 

 they resemble labour pains in some measure, being 

 weak at first, then gradually increasing, becoming 

 longer and more considerable ; at last a more violent 

 and prolonged effort than those preceding accomplishes 

 the discharge, or cleansing, as it is termed. 



When the animal is in health, the cleansing should 

 be left entirely to nature ; and on no account^ with- 

 out the most positive advice^ and that of an experi- 

 enced person^ should the hand he introduced^ in order 

 to hasten tJie discharge. Cases might be enumerated, 

 where days, even a week, have passed, without the 

 cleansing being expelle<1, and not the least danger re- 

 sult to the animal ; notwithstanding that in the latter 

 instance, the proprietor used the most earnest entrea- 

 ties, that the veterinary surgeon who attended should 

 draw it off. It is sufficient to pull the umbilical cord 

 which hangs out of the part, gently, whe?iever there is 

 a labour pain, but not to continue to draw it after the 

 pain has ceased ; and the force with which it is drawn 

 should accord with, or be in proportion to, the effort 

 which the animal makes : if it is too weak, it will be 

 of no use, and if too violent, there is danger of break- 



