106 THE FARMER'S VETERINARIAN 



its course, may reach the size of a cocoanut, or 

 larger. On reaching some size, it usually ruptures 

 and from it discharges a thick, yellowish pus. It is 

 to be distinguished very largely by its commonly 

 affecting cattle, its location, its slow growth and its 

 firm, hard consistency, and finally a discharge of pus 

 from it. 



Treatment consists, if of small size in the soft 

 tissues, of complete excision by the knife. But, if 

 of larger size, or when the bone or large blood ves- 

 sels are involved, recourse should be had to the 

 internal administration of iodide of potash from one 

 to two teaspoonfuls in a drench of a quart of water, 

 or, in some instances, it may be given in the drink- 

 ing water once daily. This should be continued for 

 a week or ten days, when the treatment should be 

 discontinued for a like time, and, if necessary, re- 

 peated several times. 



AFTERBIRTH, RETENTION OF. This is a 

 condition resulting from the failure of the mother to 

 pass the membranes after the birth of her young. It 

 happens most frequently in cases of abortion, or 

 when birth occurs before time. There is usually more 

 or less of a mass of the membranes hanging from 

 the opening, which occasionally reaches to below the 

 hock, or even to the ground. When fresh it looks 

 somewhat like the intestines, but if exposed to the 

 air for some time it is grayish in color, especially 

 when it begins to decompose. The odor is very 

 offensive, and the discharge soils all the hind parts 

 of the animal. In these cases the health of the 

 animal suffers, and fever frequently results, with a 

 loss of appetite and flow of milk. The fever and 

 inflammation of the parts may go so far as to cause 

 the death of the animal. 



