NEAT CATTLE. 235 



desperate. The part must be cleaned from blood and 

 dirt, and supported by a sheet ; then, the operator begin- 

 ning at the verv fundus or bottom of the womb, it may 

 be gradually returned by the union of seme little inge- 

 nuity and a groat deal Of patience. The animal should 

 be copiously bled before this is attempted, in order to 

 relax the passage ; and the application of cold water for 

 a considerable time may contract the womb itself, and 

 render its return more easy. A stitch or a couple of 

 stitches should be passed through the lips of the shape, 

 'n order to prevent a repetition of the protrusion, and 

 .he following anodyne draught administered: — Take 

 powdered opium, half a drachm ; sweet spirits of nitre, 

 two ounces. Rub them together, adding the fluid by 

 small quantities at a time, and give the mixture in a 

 pint of warm gruel. 



" If the cow has calved unseen and unattended, she 

 will, like eveiy other quadruped, set diligently to work 

 to devour the cleansing, and lick the new-born animal 

 clean. This, however, is often carefully prevented when 

 there is the opportunity of so doing. The calf is taken 

 immediately away, and the cleansing thrown on the 

 dung-heap. We act contrary to nature in this. She 

 would not have given to herbivorous animals this pro- 

 pensity to eat the placenta, had not some useful purpose 

 been affected by it. Cleanliness was one object, the next 

 was either to support the strength of the animal, or to 

 have an aperient or salutary influence on her. The 



out. In returning it, the fist is applied to the extreme outer or lower 

 part, as you would apply the hand outwardly to the toe of a stocking 

 that is inside out, to turn it outside in. The protruded parts should 

 be cleansed in warm water ; and if they have been out long, and be- 

 come inflamed, as is sometimes the case, from neglect, foment them 

 some time in a warm decoction of raspberry leaves, or of white oak, 

 beech, yellow birch, black cherry, barberry, sweet apple-tree bark, or 

 other astringent. The operator should perform very gently in return- 

 ing the withers, and having done this, and taken astitch of strong 

 twine across the vulva, the application of cold water will produce a 

 contraction of the parts. Then place the cow with her fore feet the 

 lowest, and so that she cannot lie down for a day. Give gentle physic 

 of thoroughwort tea, or salts, and gentle astringents to allay inflamma- 

 tion, as raspberry lea. &c. It would be well to let the cow go farrow 

 ene year, that the parts may become firm. 



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