67G THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



when once setup, it cannot be cured except by the most approved 

 methods of treatment. It may be said that, with skilful manage- 

 ment, treatment may be efficacious in about 50 per cent of cases; 

 but it must be borne in mind that almost every day adds to the 

 knowledge at the command of the specialist, and that possibly 

 more favourable results might be hoped for. Unfortunately the 

 veterinary surgeon seldom has a chance to display his skill. We 

 cannot here say much of the treatment required except that the 

 removal of all decomposing matter from the womb, and the 

 local use of solution of permanganate of potassium, together 

 with the internal administration of salicylate of sodium, suitable 

 germicidal agents, and stimulants are indicated. 



Another point of primary importance is that ill-compounded 

 ** lambing-oils " should on no account be used. Great mischief 

 results from so doing, and we have no hesitation in saying 

 that the disease may arise from this most needless cause. 

 "Lambing-oils^' consist sometimes of ingredients which by no 

 possibility could be productive of good, while they often work 

 a vast amount of harm. To be effective, they should be at once 

 bland and mild, and at the same time antiseptic. It is pro- 

 bable that some of those which are used are not only not 

 antiseptic, but are at the same time of a highly irritating and 

 caustic nature. Hence, while they do not do the things they 

 ought to do, they do effectually that which on no account they 

 ought to do. Such preparations are therefore both worthless 

 and mischievous. Even those which are in some degree anti- 

 septic may be, owing to the inferior quality of the drugs they 

 contain, or to the faulty mode of mixing, or to the wrong pro- 

 portions in which they are compounded, harmful and dangerous. 



In conclusion, then, we may point out that the cases we have 

 drawn attention to furnish one instance out of many which might 

 be adduced of the immense loss resulting to the farmer primarily, 

 and to the country secondarily, by a want of knowledge and 

 appreciation of well-known scientific principles. In these days 

 especially, it is of paramount importance that no such avoidable 

 diminution of wealth should be allowed to go on, unchecked 

 by a few words of warning given in season. If all farmers would 

 see that their shepherds exercise the necessary precautions, they 

 would gain pounds and pounds by staying the progress of the 

 fatal disease referred to. 



