202 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



SWELLING OF THE CALF WITH GAS. 



This is usually the result of the death and decomposition of the fetus 

 wlKMi extraction has been delayed for a day or more after the escape of 

 the waters. It is impossible to extract it whole, owing to its large size 

 ami the dry state of the skin of the calf, the membranes, and the wall of 

 the womb. These dry surfaces stick with such tenacity that no attempt 

 at traction leads to any advance of the calf out of the womb or into the 

 passages. When the fetus is advanced the adherent womb advances 

 with it, and when the strain is relaxed both recede to where they were 

 at first. The condition may be helped somewhat by the free injection 

 of oil into the womb, but it remains impossible to extract the enormously 

 bloated body, and the only resort is to cut it in pieces and extract it by 

 degrees. (See Embryotomy). 



RIGID CONTRACTIONS OF MUSCLES. 



Iii the development of the calf, as in after life, the muscles are subject 

 to cramps, and in certain cases given groups of muscles remain unnat- 

 urally short, so that even the bones grow in a twisted and distorted 

 way. In one case the head and neck are drawn round to one side and 

 can not be straightened out, even the bones of the face and the nose 

 being curved around to that side. In other cases the flexor muscles of 

 the fore legs are so shortened that the knees are kept constantly bent 

 and can not be extended by force. The bent neck may sometimes be 

 sufficiently straightened for extraction by cutting across the muscles 

 on the side to which it is turned, and the bent knees by cutting the 

 cords on the back of the shank bones just below the knees. If this 

 fails there remains the resort of cutting off the distorted limbs or head. 

 (See Embryotomy). 



TUMORS OF THE CALF INCLOSED OVUM. 



Tumors or new growths grow on the unborn calf as on the mature 

 animal, and by increasing the diameter of the body render its passage 

 through the passage of the pelvis impossible. In my experience with 

 large fleshy tumors of the abdomen, I have cut open the chest, removed 

 the lungs and heart, cut through the diaphragm with the knife, and 

 removed the tumor piecemeal by alternate tearing and cutting until the 

 volume of the body was sufficiently reduced to pass through. Where 

 this failed it would remain to cut off the anterior part of the body, 

 removing as much of the chest as possible, and cutting freely through 

 the diaphragm; then, pushing back the remainder of the body, the hind 

 limbs may be seized and brought into the passages, and the residue 

 extracted thus. The tumor, unless very large, will get displaced back- 

 ward so as not to prove an insuperable obstacle. 



In many cases the apparent tumor is a blighted ovum which has 

 failed to develop, but has grafted itself on its more fortunate twin and 



