NEAT CATTLE. 231 



eighteen quarts a day until she calved. The calf found 

 the udder in a fine condition. 



MANAGEMENT AT CALVING. 



A short time before calving, turn the cow loose into 

 a pen or room by herself, that is level and dry. She 

 should be seen to frequently, but in such a way that she 

 shall not think that she is watched, as in such cases ani- 

 mals seek retirement. We copy the following from 

 Crater, the distinguished English veterinarian : 



"The usual symptoms of the approach of calving are 

 uneasiness, slight lifting of the tail, lying down and 

 getting up, the evident labor-throe, gentle at first, and 

 increasing in force, and the commencement of the pro- 

 trusion of the membranes from her shape. The still 

 earlier symptoms, and preceding the labor by a few 

 days, are enlargement of the udder, and redness of the 

 space between her shape and the udder. 



"The labor having actually commenced, the mem- 

 branes will more and more protrude, until they break, 

 and the fluid by which the calf was surrounded will 

 escape. If her pains are strong, the cow should for a 

 while be scarcely meddled with ; but if an hour or more 

 elapses, and no portion of the calf presents itself, the 

 hand, well greased, should be introduced, in order to 

 ascertain the situation and position of the calf. The 

 natural position is with the fore feet presenting, and the 

 muzzle lying upon the fore legs. If the foetus is found 

 in this position, and advanced into the passage, some 

 time longer should be allowed to see what nature will 

 do ; and the strength of the animal may, if necessary, 

 be supported by some gruel, with which a pint of warm 

 ale has been mixed, being horned down. As soon, how- 

 ever, as the throes begin to weaken, and before that, il 

 no progress has been made, manual assistance must be 

 rendered. 



" Here it will be recollected that there are tw o objects 

 to be accomplished, — the saving of the lives of both the 

 mother and the young one, — and that, consequently, the 

 means at first employed should be gentle. The hand 



