DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 887 



The cow, dying, to save the calf. — In case of serious malformation of 

 the cow, when all hope of saving her is given up, and the calf is still alive 

 but cannot be delivered, resort should be had to the Csesarian operation. 

 (See chapter on operations.) 



Some treatment, — or, rather, special care — is very necessary both be- 

 fore and after parturition. If the delivery is easy, a warm bran mash with 

 a little salt in it is soothing and slightly nutritious. The cow should be 

 dieted for a few days before calving, to loosen the bowels; if on hay, give 

 roots and bran. Avoid having breeders too fat, the other extreme being 

 just as bad. If too fat, puerperal fever is much more apt to follow ; 

 if too thin and weakly, the placenta is sure to be retained. Avoiding 

 both these extremes, have them in middling flesh up to within a month 

 of calving; then increase the feed up to within two days of that time, so 

 as to have them in a thriving condition. If the cow is fat, it is a good 

 plan to give, two weeks before calving, and repeat a week before, half a 

 pound of epsom salts in a quart of water, to loosen the bowels. 



If delivery is long and exhausting, give a pint of warm ale during its 

 progress, and again afterwards. If the udder fills very full before calving 

 it is well to milk a little to relieve its painful tension. In all cases, milk 

 the cow immediately after calving, while she is drinking her slop, and 

 feed the calf, before he gets up, about a pint of the milk, giving the rest 

 to the cow. It will act upon her as a healthful laxative. Inasmuch as 

 the milk at this time is very different from what she ordinarily gives, 

 there is a very little danger of begetting the habit of milking herself. 



The milk, at first, is rather thick and yellow, and is not fit to use for 

 family purposes under three or four milkings. Some people indeed have 

 a prejudice against using it under two weeks; nevertheless, except for 

 drinking, it is good for all purposes after the third milking, provided 

 there is no disease in the cow. 



II. Prolonged After-pains. 



These sometimes occur after protracted and painful delivery, from fail- 

 ure of the womb to contract, or from retention of the after-birth, — most 

 commonly in weak, thin, old cows. For treatment, injections of cold water 

 thrown up the vagina will usually suffice. They should not be allowed 

 to continue, as they are apt to lead to inversion of the womb. 



III. Retention of the After-birth. 



When the placenta or after-birth is retained, mechanical means are 

 necessary to remove it ; for it becomes a foreign body as soon as the foetus 

 is delivered, and begins at once to decompose, and the impure matter 

 being absorbed into the circulation, the general health of the animal suf- 

 fers decidedly. 



It is best to let the placenta remain till the end of the second day, or 



