122 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK i 



" hogged " is the term in some districts, for then the sucking and 

 butting of the calf are useful in getting rid of it. A warm mash 

 should be given, and water slightly warmed. In fine and dry weather 

 the cow should be watched attentively, in case she should require aid, 

 but no artificial means should be used, unless she evidently needs 

 assistance. On the following day she may be turned out about noon, 

 and regularly taken in during the night, and this for three or four 

 successive days. 



The above hints are given on the supposition that the cow is well, 

 and that no difficulty has happened during the time of calving ; and 

 particularly that she has not slipped or cast her calf before its full time. 

 It should be observed that the proper position of a calf while in the 

 uterus is with its head foremost, its back being towards the cow's back, 

 and its two fore-feet lying parallel to the sides of its head. When the 

 foetus appears in any other manner, it is termed an unnatural position ; 

 and the extraction of the calf under these circumstances may require 

 some skill and dexterity : but as no instructions can be adequate to 

 every possible case, it will always be necessary, when this event takes 

 place, immediately to apply to a veterinary surgeon, lest the death of a 

 valuable animal should be the consequence of injudicious treatment. 



After the calf is produced, it will sometimes be necessary to assist 

 the natural functions of the animal in removing the secundines, 1 pro- 

 vided in the uterus for nourishing the foetus, and which, continuing 

 there after the birth, would become putrescent, and produce irritation 

 in the womb, and probably considerable fever. There is no danger, 

 however, that this will immediately take place, and a few days will pass 

 before any material inconvenience will ensue. No attempt should be 

 made hastily to remove it, without there is evident inconvenience or 

 danger from its retention. An aperient drink, composed of a pound of 

 Epsom salts and a quarter of an ounce of ginger, will always be useful 

 after calving. 



It may be necessary to milk the cows three or four times a day for two 

 or three days, especially if they are full of flesh and the udder is hard. 

 The calf should be suffered to suck frequently, if in the house ; or, if in 

 the field, to run with the mother, and suck at pleasure : it being care- 

 fully ascertained that she does not prevent it from sucking, for, if the 

 udder or teats are sore, she will probably drive it away, and danger of 

 losing both animals will be incurred. Should the udder or the teats 

 become hard, or knotty, or tender, the most easy and effectual remedy 

 will be to let the calf derive all its nourishment by sucking. In a great 

 majority of cases the indurations will gradually disperse. Should, 

 however, ulceration of the udder, or general fever, ensue, the cow must 

 be treated as described under the Diseases of Cattle (Book the Sixth). 



The falling down of the calf-bed is a serious accident, which some- 

 times occurs after a laborious birth, when the cow is more than usually 



1 Or afterbirth, sometimes tennecl the cleansing. Cows will often eat this with avidity, 

 to prevent which it is generallj' removed. This practice is, however, of doubtful 

 utility, for nature seems to have provided in this substance a kind oi medicine for the 

 animal, which may be requisite at the. time, and its being eaten is never known to be 

 prejudicial to the health of the cow. 



