188 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



dram, may be resorted to to induce contraction of the womb. The 

 mechanical extraction of the membranes is, however, often called 

 for- of this there are several methods. The simplest is to hang a 

 weight of 1 or 2 pounds to the hanging portion, and allow this, by its 

 constant dragging and by its jerking effect when the cow moves, to 

 pull the membranes from their attachments and to stimulate the 

 womb to expulsive contractions. But in the neglected cases, when the 

 dependant mass is already badly decomposed, it is liable to tear across 

 under the added weight, leaving a portion of the offensive material 

 imprisoned in the womb. Again, this uncontrolled dragging upon a 

 relaxed womb will (in exceptional cases only, it is true) cause it to 

 become everted and to protrude in this condition from the vulva. 



A second resort is to seize the dependant part of the afterbirth 

 between two sticks, and roll it up on these until they lie against the 

 vulva; then, by careful traction, accompanied by slight jerking move- 

 ments from side to side, the womb is stimulated to expulsive contrac- 

 tions and the afterbirth is wound up more and more on the sticks un- 

 til finally its last connections with the womb are severed and the 

 remainder is expelled suddenly en masse. It is quite evident that neg- 

 lected cases with putrid membranes are poor subjects for this method, 

 as the afterbirth is liable to tear across, leaving a mass in the womb. 

 During the progress of the work any indication of tearing is the sig- 

 nal to stop and proceed with greater caution or altogether abandon 

 the attempt in this way. 



The third method (that with the skilled hand) is the most 

 promptly and certainly successful. For this the operator had best 

 strip and dress as for a parturition case. Again, the operation should 

 be undertaken within twenty-four hours after calving, since later the 

 mouth of the womb may be so closed that it becomes difficult to intro- 

 duce the hand. The operator should smear his arms with carbolized 

 lard or vaseline to protect them against infection, and particularly in 

 delayed cases with putrid mem'branes. An assistant holds the tail to 

 one side while the operator seizes the hanging afterbirth with the left 

 hand, while he introduces the right along the right side of the vagina 

 and womb, letting the membranes slide through his palm until he 

 reaches the first cotyledon to which they remain adherent. In case 

 no such connection is within reach, gentle traction is made on the 

 membranes with the left hand until the deeper parts of the womb are 

 brought within reach and the attachments to the cotyledons can be 

 reached. Then the soft projection of the membrane, which is at- 

 tached to the firm fungus-shaped cotyledon on the inner surface of 

 the womb, is seized by the little finger, and the other fingers and 

 thumb are closed on it so as to tear it out from its connections. To 

 explain this it is only necessary to say that the projection from the 

 membrane is covered by soft conical processes, which are received into 

 cavities of a corresponding size on the summit of the firm mushroom- 

 shaped cotyledon growing from the inner surface of the womb. To 

 draw upon the former, therefore, is to extract its soft villous processes 

 from within the follicles or cavities of the other. If it is at times dif- 

 ficult to start this extraction it may be necessary to get the finger nail 



