DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE OEGANS. 173 



in nearly every case. The importance of the disease is therefore in 

 dispute and the decision must be left to future investigation. 



Treatment. — The exaggerated importance which has been attached 

 to this disease resulted in the exploitation of the most varied kinds 

 of remedies for its treatment. It is true that with a protracted and 

 laborious treatment it is possible to effect cures in from one to three 

 months, but with our present knowledge of this disorder it is ad- 

 visable to limit the treatment to animals which show an acute in- 

 flammatory condition of the vagina and vulva with a discharge as a 

 result of the granular affection. The treatment should be local and 

 confined to the application of antiseptic washes in the form of irri- 

 gations. For this purpose a 0.5 per cent solution of the compound 

 solution of cresol or of Lugol's solution lias been found satisfactory. 



PARTURITION (CALVING). 



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. AMien 

 this last symptom is seen, calving may be counted on in 24 hours or 

 in 2 or 3 daj'S. When the act is imminent, 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. '\"\lien labor pains come on the 

 back is arched, the croup drooped, the belly is drawn up, and strain- 

 ing is more or less violent and continuous. 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, hang- 

 ing 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 pro- 

 ceeds with redoubled energy to the complete expulsion. This is 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 recumbent, 

 this cord is torn through as she rises. The afterpains come on 3 or 

 4 hours later and expel the membranes, which should never be left 

 longer than 24 hours. 



NATURAL PRESENTATION. 



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

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



