DISEASES FOLLOWING PAETURITION. 221 



of health and an imperfect power of contraction we find a potent 

 cause of retention, the general debility showing particularly in the 

 indisposition of the womb to contract, after calving, with sufficient 

 energy to expel the afterbirth. Hence we find the condition common 

 Avith insufficient or innutrious feed, and in years or localities in 

 Avhich the fodder has suffered from weather. Ergoted, smutty, or 

 musty fodder (PI. V), by causing abortion, is a frequent cause of 

 retention. Old cows are more subject than young ones, probably 

 because of diminishing vigor. A temporary retention is sometimes 

 owing to a too rapid closure of the neck of the womb after calving, 

 causing strangulation and imprisonment of the membranes. Con- 

 ditions favoring this are the drinking of cold (iced) water, the eat- 

 ing of cold feed (frosted roots), and (through sympathy between 

 udder and womb) a too prompt sucking by the calf or milking by 

 the attendant. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of retention of the afterbirth are usu- 

 ally only too evident, as the membranes hang from the vulva and rot 

 away gradually, causing the most offensive odor throughout the 

 building. When retained within the womb by closure of its mouth 

 and similarly in cases in which the protruded part has rotted off, the 

 decomposition continues and the fetid products escaping by the vulva 

 appear in offensively smelling pools on the floor and mat together the 

 hairs near the root of the tail. The septic materials retained in the 

 womb cause inflammation of its lining membrane, and this, together 

 with the absorption into the blood of the products of putrefaction, 

 leads to ill health, emaciation, and drying up of the milk. 



Treatment. — Treatment varies according to the conditions. When 

 the cow is in low condition, or when retention is connected with 

 drinking iced water or eating frozen feed, hot drinks and hot mashes 

 of wheat bran or other aliment may be sufficient. If along with 

 the above conditions, the bowels are somewhat confined, an ounce 

 of ground ginger, or half an ounce of black pepper, given with 

 a quart of sweet oil, or 1^ pounds of Glauber's salt in at least 4 

 quarts of warm water, will often prove effectual. A bottle or 

 two of flaxseed tea, made by prolonged boiling, should also be 

 given at frequent intervals. Other stimulants, like rue, savin, laurel, 

 and carminatives like anise, cumin, and coriander, are preferred by 

 some, but with very questionable reason, the more so that the first 

 three are not without danger. Ergot of rye, 1 ounce, or its extract, 

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

 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 



