BEFORE AND DURING CALVING. 73 



looking in upon her and watching her. If, however, she is discovered 

 in the act of calving in the homestead, slie should not be moved, 

 however exposed may be her situation. It would sometimes be dan- 

 gerous to drive her even a hundred yards. 



The usual symptoms of the approach of calving are uneasiness, 

 slight lifting of the tail, lying down and getting up, the evident 

 labour-throe, gentle at first, and increasing in force, and the com- 

 mencement of the protrusion of the membranes from her shape. The 

 still earlier symptoms, and preceding the labour by a few days, are 

 enlargement of the udder, and redness of the space between her shape 

 and the udder. 



The labour having actually commenced, the membranes will more 

 and more protrude, until they break, and the fluid by which the calf 

 was surrounded will escape. If her pains are strong, the cow should 

 for a while be scarcely meddled with ; but if an hour or more elapses, 

 and no portion of the calf presents itself, the hand, well greased, 

 should be introduced, in order to ascertain the situation and position 

 of the calf. The natural position is with the fore feet presenting, and 

 the muzzle lying upon the fore-legs. If the foetus is found in this 

 position, and advanced into the passage, some time longer should be 

 allov/ed to see what nature will do; and the strength of the animal 

 may, if necessary, be supported by some gruel, with which a pint of 

 warm ale has been mixed, being horned down. As soon, however, 

 as the throes begin to weaken, and before that, if no progress has 

 been made, manual assistance must be rendered. 



Here it will be recollected that there are two objects to be accom- 

 plished, — the saving of the lives of both the mother and the young 

 one, and that, consequently, the means at first employed should be 

 gentle. The hand should be introduced, and the fore-legs of the calf 

 laid hold of and drawn down, the efforts of the operator being em- 

 ployed at the moment of the throes of the mother. If the legs are 

 brought forward a little way, care should be taken that the head is 

 accompanying them. The hand will sometimes be sufficient for this 

 purpose. If the head cannot be moved by the hand, a cord must be 

 procured with a slip knot at the end, which is to be passed carefully 

 into the passage, and, the mouth of the young animal being opened, 

 fastened round his lower jaw. The end of this must be given to an 

 assistant, who should be instructed to pull gently, but firmly, at the 

 moment of the throes, while the principal operator is endeavouring to 

 draw on the feet. 



Should not this succeed, it will appear that, either from the narrow- 

 ness of the pelvis, or the size of the foetus, there will be difficulty and 

 danger in accomplishing its extraction. The operator must then begin 

 to think less of the safety of the calf, and endeavour to secure that 

 of the mother. Two other large cords or ropes must be procured, and 

 one fastened round each leg. The service of two assistants will now 

 be required. One should pull at the head, and the other the feet, 

 while the operator ascertains the progress that is made : too much 

 7 



