670 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



navel cord to be ruptured by the natural method of over- 

 stretching, by which it parts regularly at two to four inches 

 from the umbilicus. When permitted to rupture in this 

 manner, the elastic stumps of the umbilic arteries, dragging 

 with them the stump of the urachus, recoil into the abdomi- 

 nal cavity and come to rest two or more inches above and 

 posterior to the umbilicus. This leaves only the vein and the 

 the amniotic covering of the cord to consider. The blood in 

 the umbilic vein drops out promptly and the vein collapses 

 at once. No tying of the umbilic stump should be attempted, 

 as this interferes with the escape of blood from the umbilic 

 vein. The layman should understand that there is no bleed- 

 ing, in the true sense, from the umbilicus of a normal calf. 

 The arteries when broken recoil in a manner rendering the 

 escape of blood impossible. Since, if the umbilic stump is 

 ligated after having broken naturally, the arteries are not 

 included in the ligature, ligation could not prevent arterial 

 bleeding if it were threatened. A ligature can serve only to 

 retain within the navel veins that blood which inevitably 

 dies and should escape. If the heart valves are defective, 

 there may be hemorrhage from the navel veins, but in that 

 case the death of the young animal is an economic gain. The 

 stump of the navel cord should be disinfected by some re- 

 liable plan. I prefer a solution of 1-1000 corrosive subli- 

 mate. A goblet, cup or large-mouthed bottle is filled with 

 this solution, then pressed against the abdominal floor, sur- 

 rounding the umbilicus, thus completely immersing the navel 

 stump, and held there for ten to fifteen minutes. This may 

 be repeated in twelve to twenty-four hours if the navel 

 stump has not dried up. As much of the bacteria-containing 

 meconium as practicable should be removed promptly from 

 the rectum and large intestines. So far as I have observed, 

 the best plan is the use of a warm enema of physiologic salt 

 solution (1 ounce salt to 1 gallon water). It is adminis- 

 t< red with a hospital irrigator to which is attached a small 

 soft rubber horse catheter. The irrigator is held slightly 

 above the calf and the catheter gently introduced into the 

 rectum while the enema is slowly flowing in. The catheter 



