198 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



or straps. Another way is to put three or four stitches through the 

 vulva — the animal can urinate through the lower opening. And 

 there are various trusses which are of benefit in some cases, but I 

 think the pessary the most successful. It is a good plan to press 

 upon and get the back to bend down. Some recommend, and I 

 have tried, inserting a big pin through the skin on the back, and 

 put twine around it, which causes the back to bend. This is similar 

 and more troublesome, but not so common, in the mare. You may 

 meet a case where the uterus is gangrenous. Then do not return 

 it, but you may endeavour to save the life of the animal by remov- 

 ing it, which is sometimes successful. And in some cases it is best to 

 place the animal under chloroform, then tie a cord around it as close 

 to the OS-uteri as possible, then cut the parts off and arrest the 

 hemorrhage. Some recommend using the ecraseur, taking one-half, 

 one-third, etc., at a time ; then keep her quiet. If she is weak, as she 

 is apt to be, give stimulants, but I do not know whether it is juecessary 

 to operate on a mare. I never knew a mare to recover. Another con- 

 dition is prolapsus, or inversion of the vagina, both before and after 

 parturition, and is more common in cows than in mares. Poor keep- 

 ing is a common cause ; another cause is an impacted state of the 

 rectum ; or standing in a stall higher in front than behind. By ex- 

 amining you can tell the difference between this and inversion of the 

 uterus, and sometimes the uterus protrudes at the same time. If 

 due to a compacted state of the rectum, clear out the rectum, 

 and it is generally easily returned. Remove the cause, elevate the 

 hind parts, and you can use a truss of some kind, and if the animal 

 is in poor condition, give a generous diet, tone up the system, etc. 

 The treatment after parturition is just the same as before parturition, 

 and it may protrude for some time before parturition without doing 

 much harm. In some cases it may be advisable to put a suture 

 through the lips. Astringents, acetate of lead and water, have been 

 recommended. After cleansing use cold instead of warm water, 

 which tends to contraction. But if there is irritation I prefer warm 

 applications. If the uterus is lacerated, stitch it up and then en- 

 deavour to return it. It is recorded that some have recovered. I 

 never saw a case recover. 



D[SEASES AFTER PARTURITION. 



Milk, or Parturient, Fever, which differs from parturient apoplexy. 

 Any case of parturition produces more or less fever, the pulse is 

 slightly quickened, the temperature elevated, etc. Parturient fever 

 usually accompanies the secretion of the milk. There is a great 

 amount of blood in the system which goes to the milk, and milk fever 

 is an invariable sign of a good milker. 



Symptoms. — The pulse increases some ; the udder becomes tender 

 and slightly swollen, the swelling extending along the belly, and 

 sometimes between the fore legs — and even in some cases before 

 parturition; the breathing is slightly quickened; the mouth hot; 

 and when the milk is properly secreted there is no danger to be 

 apprehended. Although it is simple, we are sometimes called to 

 treat it, and sometimes the symptoms are premonitory symptoms of 

 parturient apoplexy. It exists moi'e in well bred animals than in 

 others. 



