DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



225 



abortions have broken out in a herd good results have followed 

 a course of chlorate of potassa in ^- oz. do5jes daily. When the 

 beasts are plethoric benefit has been derived from bleeding or 

 a bare diet with occasional mild laxatives. When run down 

 by poor feeding or by early breeding and feeding for milk, a 

 course of tonics (phosphate of soda, sulphate of iron, gentian, 

 and ginger) has proved beneficial. When the discharge and 

 other premonitory symptoms appear, laudanum may be given in 

 large and repeated doses to quiet the system and keep the 

 tendency in check. Quiet and seclusion are no less essential. 

 When the abortion becomes inevitable it must be allowed to 

 proceed or assistance given if necessary as in parturition. 



DIFFICUr/r PARTURITION. 



Parturition is easy in most of the lower animals, the wedge- 

 like outline of the fcetus, when normally presented with the 

 long head extended between the fore limbs, rendering it an 

 affair of mechanical simplicity. The same is true of the pre- 

 sentation of the two hind feet. If left to nature the passages 

 are prepared by the relaxation of the ligaments of the pelvis 

 and falling in on each side of the croup ; they are then gently 

 and equably dilated by the advancing soft and elastic water- 

 .bags; and then if the back of the foetus is turned toward the 

 back of the mother so that the curvative of its body may 

 correspond to that of the pelvis, the process is rarely difficult 

 or protracted. 



Danger arises mainly from parturition being precipitated 

 before its natural period, from unnatural conditions of the 

 passages, from distortions of the f(jetus, or from turning back of 

 one or more members so as to impair the regularity of the 

 wedge and to increase the bulk posteriorly. 



PREMATURE LAHOUK-PAINS. 



Caused by excitement of travel, goring or riding by their 

 fellows, blows and other mechanical injuries, violent purgation 



