DISEASES OF CATTLE 179 



the side of the neck. Range cattle may be more readily treated by 

 the use of medicated salt placed in troughs accessible to the animals. 

 This salt is easily prepared by pouring 4 ounces of liquefied crude 

 carbolic acid upon 12 quarts of ordinary barrel salt, after which 

 they are thoroughly mixed. 



CALVING (PARTURITION). 



SYMPTOMS OF CALVING. 



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 serous milky fluid ; the enlarge- 

 ment 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 im- 

 minent, the cow becomes uneasy, moves restlessly, 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 continu- 

 ous. Meanwhile blood may have appeared on the vulva and tail, 

 and soon 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 presentation is normal, as they furnish a soft, 

 uniform pressure for the preliminary 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 recum- 

 bent, 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. 



NATURAL PRESENTATION. 



When there is but one calf the natural presentation is that of 

 the fore feet with the front of the hoofs and knees turned upward 

 toward the tail of the dam and the nose lying between the knees. If 

 there are twins the natural position of the second is that of the hind 

 feet, the heels and hocks turned upward toward the cow's tail. In 

 both of these natural positions the curvature of the body of the calf 

 the back arched upward is the same with the curvature of the 

 passages, which descend anteriorly into the womb, ascend over the 

 brim of the pelvis, and descend again toward the external opening 

 (vulva) . Any presentation differing from the above is abnormal. 



