THE URINARY SYSTEM 475 



constitutional disturbance, and, in some cases, septic poisoning and 

 death. 



805. Retention of the Placenta, or Cleansing, in the Cow. — 



The attachment of the after-birth to the womb in the cow is quite 

 different to that of the mare (par. 759). As a rule the after-birth 

 comes away naturally a few hours after calving, yet the cow can 

 retain the foetal membranes for several days without any constitu- 

 tional disturbance being set up ; and in some instances they may be 

 successfully removed at any period during the first two or three 

 days. But where there is inertia, or the want of tone in walls of the 

 womb to contract and expel the contents, so long as the cow takes 

 its food, chews the cud and milks fairly well, I leave the membranes 

 alone until the fifth or sixth day in summer, and the sixth or seventh 

 day in winter, when they are, as a rule, extracted without interfering 

 with the general health of the animal. I strongly condemn the 

 forcible tearing away of the after-birth from the womb of a newly 

 calved cow, as in the majority of cases it produces great nervous 

 prostration and general debility. I have tried numerous medical 

 agents, including a strong decoction of Mugwort, to assist in the 

 expulsion of the cleansing, but have found nothing to answer as well 

 as 2 to 3 ounces of hyposulphite of soda, 1 ounce of ground ginger, 

 and 2 drachms of powdered nux vomica, mixed and given every night 

 for a week as a drench in 1 quart of thin treacle gruel. In removing 

 the retained cleansing I generally inject into the uterus 8 or 10 quarts 

 of tepid water containing a small portion of Condy's Fluid or Sanitas ; 

 then, on introducing the hand, by gentle traction and twisting of 

 the membranes, they are removed. I have a great objection to 

 cutting small pieces off the portion of the membranes that may be 

 hanging outside, and have still more objection to farmers tying a 

 horse-shoe or other weight to them. The membranes which are 

 hanging outside can, however, be rolled up into a knot to be out of 

 the milker's way, and then taken away as described above. After 

 removing the placenta from the mare and cow, I usually inject into 

 the womb 5 or 6 quarts of tepid water containing 1 ounce of 

 tincture of iron, which is a good antiseptic. Notwithstanding the 



