334 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



I find it necessary sometimes to put on a truss, 

 which will be described in Inversion of the 

 Uterus. After the birth of the young creature 

 there will be no further trouble. 



Inversion of the Uterus. — This very trouble- 

 some affection known as falling down of the womb 

 is common to cows; but may happen in the mar*. 

 The immediate cause of inversion is relaxation of 

 the ligaments of that organ, w T hose duty it is to 

 retain it in its position. It is further aggravated 

 by the congested and enlarged state. This is 

 brought about by debility of the animal and rough 

 handling at the time of parturition; also, the ani- 

 mal having to stand or lie on a slanting floor; and 

 to make matters still worse it is usually too short 

 for the animal's body. Cows in calf should never 

 be put into a stall of this kind. A little attention 

 to the animal's comfort, good food and exercise, 

 and this troublesome affection would be of rare 

 occurrence. The great difficulty in returning this 

 organ is quite apparent when w r e consider its vast 

 bulk in comparison with the passage of the va- 

 gina, and also the violent expulsion of the mother. 

 This latter can be counteracted by placing the ani- 

 mal with its fore feet in a hole as before described. 

 Our first object will be to have it well washed and 

 all straw and dung removed. If the afterbirth, 

 or part of it, is still adhering to it, carefully 

 detach all, and if there should be much bleeding, 

 bathe well with cold water. Put half an ounce of 

 sugar of lead to the pail of water; this will soon 

 stop the hemorrhage. The womb being thorough- 



