DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 211 



pains take place, which separate the afterbirth, or cleansings ; 

 and these being expelled, the process is finished. 



When the membrane breaks, and the fluid escapes early in 

 calving, and before the month of the uterus is sufficiently ex- 

 panded, the process is often slow, and it is a considerable time 

 before any part of the calf makes its appearance. The prac- 

 tice of hurrying the process by introducing the hand, or driv- 

 ing the animal about when symptoms of calving appear, is 

 very improper. It has been known in many instances to 

 cause the animal's death. It sometimes appears that a wrong 

 presentation takes place, and renders the calving impractica- 

 ble without assistance. In such cases it is necessary to intro- 

 duce the hand in order to ascertain the position of the calf, 

 and change it when it is found unfavorable. When, for ex- 

 ample, the head presents without the fore legs, which are 

 bent under the breast, it cannot, in this position, be well drawn 

 away without danger. In this case the calf should be gently 

 pushed back in the uterus, placing the cow in the most favor- 

 able position, and taking the opportunity for so doing while 

 there are no pains nor straining. When the calf is pushed 

 back, the fore legs are to be carefully drawn downward, in a line 

 with the head, and brought out into the vagina. The author 

 has known several cases, where parturition was seemingly dif- 

 ficult, of a resort to force in extracting the calf ; but it should 

 be recollected that nature is never to be interfered with in the 

 process of delivery, or in any of her operations, unless it is 

 clearly ascertained that assistance is necessary. When much 

 force is used in drawing the calf, and especially if the animal 

 be rather fat, a disease of the womb is apt to follow, and 

 puerperal fever sets in, which often proves fatal. Great mis- 

 chief is also done by endeavoring to extract the calf without 

 regard to its position in the uterus : it is sometimes so placed 

 that delivery is not practicable until the position of the calf is 

 shifted. When much force is used in drawing the calf, it 

 sometimes happens that the womb falls out or is inverted, and 

 great care is required in putting it back, so that it may remain 

 in its situation. In doing so, there is an advantage derived 



