200 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



COAGULATED BLOOD UNDER THE VAGINAL, WALLS. 



This is common after calving, but will sometimes occur before, as the 

 result of accidental injury. The mass may be recognized by its dark 

 hue and the doughy sensation to the touch. It may be cut into and 

 the mass turned out with the fingers, after which it should be washed 

 frequently with an antiseptic lotion (carbolic acid 1 dram, in 1 quart 

 water). 



CONSTRICTION OF A MEMBER BY THE NAVEL STRING. 



In early fetal life the winding of the navel-string round a limb may 

 cause the latter to be slowly cut off by absorption under the constrict 

 ing cord. So, at calving, the cord wound round a presenting member 

 may retard progress somewhat, and though the calf may still be born 

 tardily by the unaided efforts of the mother, it is liable to come still- 

 born because the circulation in the cord is interrupted by compression 

 before the offspring can reach the open air and commence to breathe. 

 If, therefore, it is possible to anticipate and prevent this displacement 

 and compression of the navel string it should be done, but if this is no 

 longer possible, then the extraction of the calf should be effected as 

 rapidly as possible, and if breathing is not at once attempted it should 

 be started by artificial means. 



WATER IN THE HEAD (HYDROCEPHALUS) OF THE CALF. 



This is an enormous distention of the cavity holding the brain, by 

 reason of the accumulation of liquid in the internal cavities (ventricles) 

 of the brain substance. The head back of the eyes rises into a great 

 rounded ball (Plate xix, Figs. 4 and 5), which proves an insuperable 

 obstacle to parturition. The fore feet and nose being the parts pre- 

 sented, no progress can be made, and even if the feet are pulled upon, 

 the nose can not by any means be made to appear. The oiled hand intro- 

 duced into the passages will feel the nose presenting between the fore 

 limbs, and on passing the hand back over the face the hard rounded 

 mass of the cranium is met with. A sharp pointed knife or a canula 

 and trocar should be introduced in the palm of the hand, and pushed 

 into the center of the rounded mass so as to evacuate the water. The 

 hand is now used to press together the hitherto distended but thin 

 and fragile walls, and the calf may be delivered in the natural way. If 

 the enlarged head is turned backward it must still be reached and 

 punctured, after which it must be brought up into position and the calf 

 delivered. 



If the hind feet present first, all may go well until the body and shoul- 

 ders have passed out, when further progress is suddenly arrested by the 

 great bulk of the head. If possible the hand, armed with a knife or tro- 

 car, must be passed along the side of the shoulder or neck so as to reach 

 and puncture the distended head. Failing in this the body may be 

 skinned up from ,3he belly and cut in two at the shoulder or neck, after 



