ABOETION.] 



CATTLE, AND THETE TAETETTES. [calf diseases. 



mechanical assistance. After this, however, the | 

 danger is not so probable, provided the proper 

 presentation takes pUice. It has been said, 

 that such animals as bring forth their young 

 \rithout any attention whatever, do the best r 

 and we have no doubt that much could be 

 said in favour of this observation ; but whether 

 it be true or not, there is no question that 

 premature interference is more likely to be 

 attended with unsatisfactory results, than if 

 the animal were left entirely in the hands of 

 nature. The first decided symptoms of coming 

 labour, exhibit themselves in what is called 

 "the waters;" after which the cow will ap- 

 parently feel perfectly at ease for an hour or 

 so, and sometimes eat a little food. The 

 second bezng thicker and larger, envelops 

 the feet of the calf. When both symptoms I 

 appear, a little mechanical assistance may, | 

 with safety, be given, should the head be 

 found above and between them. Above all 

 things, time should be given for nature to 

 work out her own operation, and the calf will 

 appear in due time. In cases of false presen- 

 tation — such as the appearance of the head, a 

 single foot, or the hind legs— it is, at all times, 

 the best plan to call in the aid of a veterinary 

 practitioner. " Some persons," says the author 

 of The Cow, "have the practice of giving every 

 cow a calving drink. We uniformly prefer, as 

 we said, nature's medicine — the licking of the 

 calf— to any and ali others which can be given. 

 If it has been a long and protracted labour, 

 a drink of a quart of home-brewed ale, or a 

 pound of treacle, will be found useful. If the 

 cow refuses to lick the calf — which heifers of 

 their first calves will sometimes do- — it is 

 seldom necessary to do more than run the 

 hand over the newly-dropped calf, and then 

 pass it across the mouth and lips of the mother. 

 Abortion. — Thi^ is frequent in some indivi- 

 dual cows, and is often caused by the disagree- 

 able effluvia arising from the decaying matter 

 which is sufi"ered to pollute both the cow-houses 

 and the yards. Imagmatiou has also a great deal 

 to do with this. Indeed, to such an extent is 

 this the case, that an instance of abortion in one 

 cow, has caused an epidemic of the same kind 

 to afiect all the rest in the yard. The cow 

 that has success^fu ly calved, should, therefore, 

 be immediately removed from the others, and 

 placed in a situation of quietness and solitude. 

 686 



Chloride of lime ought to be abundantly strewn 

 near and about the stall where she was ; 

 and the noses of the whole of the others 

 should be rubbed over with tar. Hetention of 

 the placenta, or failing to cleanse, sometimes 

 occurs, and is indicative of weakness, and a 

 want of tone in the uterus. Where this ia 

 the case, a mild stimulant may be given ; and 

 nothing ia better than an infusion of camomile 

 flowers — say two handfuls in a quart of water 

 — added to a quart of good boiled ale ; and, if 

 necessary, apply an injection of soapsuds, to 

 keep open the bowels, and prevent inflam- 

 matory action. Should these fail, call in the 

 veterinary practitioner. 



Cholcmg. — Where this has taken place, from 

 the eftects of some large root having " stuck in 

 the throat," an eftorc must immediately be 

 made to relieve the animal. The mouth should 

 therefore be first examined, in order to dis- 

 cover whether the object cannot be extracted 

 with the hand, which is by far the best instru- 

 ment to use, if it can conveniently be done. 

 Should this not be the case, however, the 

 assistance of the probang, invented by Dr. 

 Munro, must be called in. Before using this 

 instrument, a little sweet oil should be first 

 given ; after whicli it should be carefully passed 

 into the mouth, with the cup end downwards, 

 and gradually moved towards the impediment 

 which has caused the choking. Should this 

 be a turnip, which is not unfrequently the case, 

 and should it ofier much resistance, the in- 

 strument must be withdrawn, and its position 

 changed. Generally, however, this will not be 

 necessary, as the root will pass down without 

 much effort. Sometimes it may even be gob 

 out, by pressing the thumbs up each side ot 

 the neck, accompanied with a pressure of the 

 hand. 



Costiveness. — In calves this disease is some- 

 times found ; and unless it has assumed a very 

 severe form, it is not necessary to have re- 

 course to medicine. An ounce of fat bacon, 

 boiled with a handful of onions, will, in all 

 probability, act as a suitable relief; whilst its 

 nourishing properties cannot injure, but may 

 improve the health of the animal. 



DISEASES IN CA.LVES. 

 Young calves are not subject to many 

 diseases, and luediciue is very seldom necessary 



