THE URINARY SYSTEM 463 



mother. I have been successful on many occasions in saving the 

 lives of foals, calves, lambs, and pigs, but at the sacrifice of the 

 mothers. 



787. Retention of the Foetus is sometimes seen in cattle. At 

 the end of the period of gestation the cow shows all the signs of 

 approaching parturition — the udder is distended, the teats pointed, etc. 

 — but there are no direct labour pains, and the animal, though feeding, 

 loses flesh ; a few months after it begins to pass various bones by 

 the rectum. In some cases when the cow is a few months gone 

 in calf she will show all the signs of aborting, but no foetus appears ; 

 she will then tighten up, and the bones of the quarters will resume 

 their normal position, and the animal continue to feed and do 

 well until about the full period of gestation, when the after-birth 

 or cleansing will be noticed hanging from the passage, and on 

 examination a mummified calf will invariably be found in the 

 vaginal passage. In other cases the mummified foetus is only 

 discovered after slaughter. 



788. Eversion of the Vagina is the turning of the passage 

 or vagina inside out, with the OS constricted, and is occasionally 

 met with in ewes in lamb in frosty weather, giving rise to severe 

 straining pains. In such cases apply extract of belladonna, and 

 return the vagina to its position, keeping it there with stitches across 

 the vulva till the OS dilates; give also 8 to 10 ounces of linseed 

 oil, with 4 drachms of laudanum. If the weather is mild, these 

 cases may do well ; but if the frost continues, they generally 

 terminate in inflammation and gangrene. 



789. Inertia of the Uterus — the want of power or tone in the 

 womb and vagina, which may be intensely dilated, or in a collapsed 

 condition, with the foetus lying in a natural position, without any 

 attempt being made by the mother to expel it. I have had most 

 success in such cases by simply introducing the hand into the womb, 

 seizing hold of the foetus, and drawing it slowly and gently into the 

 passage. Extraction is generally effected without any assistance 

 from the mother. 



