DISEASES DURING AND FOLLOWING 

 THE ACT OF BIRTH. 



1.— Sprains, Luxations and Fractures Following 

 Parturition. 



When violent traction is practiced during dystokia, expos- 

 ing the long pelvic canal to excessive pressure, many disturb- 

 ances may arise. Sprains, mostly accompanied with partial 

 rupture, usually concern the ligamentous apparatus of the 

 sacro-iliac articulation. In this case there need not nec- 

 essarily be a disturbed relationship between the sacrum 

 and the external angle of the ilium, but the union of the pelvis 

 with the trunk may have become less solid, leading to disturb- 

 ances in position and walking of the animal. 



Causes. — This disease often follows when the interior half 

 of the calf's body is delivered by severe traction while the 

 trochanteric diameter of the calf lies in front of the pelvic 

 inlet. This traction spreads the greatest pelvic diameter, 

 producing a stretching or even luxation of this rather immov- 

 able joint, since the internal angles of the ilia come further 

 apart. This sprain may also follow strong traction on the calf 

 with cow in the dorsal position. In lymphatic animals there 

 is the possibility that when the abdominal pressure is active, 

 already a limited traction may cause rupture, since the move- 

 ment of this joint in such animals amounts to several milli- 

 meters. 



When upward instead of downward traction is practiced 

 ou the calf, sprains are more readily caused. 



Symptoms. — The cow can rise only with difficulty. Slie 

 sways to and fro, and when the hind legs are close together 

 she easily loses her equilibrium and falls down; but when 

 the hind legs have their normal position the equilibrium is 



