DISEASES OF THE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 171 



visable to limit the treatment to animals which show an acute in- 

 flammatory condition of the vagina and vulva with a discharge as a 

 result of the granular affection. The treatment should be local and 

 confined to the application of antiseptic washes in the form of irri- 

 gations. For this purpose a 0.5 per cent solution of cresol com- 

 pound, lysol, or Lugol's solution has been found satisfactory. 



PARTURITION (CALVING). 



SYMPTOMS OF CALVING. 



In the cow the premonitions of calving are the enlargement of the 

 udder, which becomes firm and resistant to the touch, with more or 

 less swelling in front, and yields a serous, milky fluid; the enlarge- 

 ment and swelling of the vulva, which discharges an abundant, stringy 

 mucus ; the drooping of the belly, and the falling in of the muscles at 

 each side of the root of the tail, so as to leave deep hollows. AMien 

 this last symptom is seen, calving may be counted on in 24 hours 

 or in 2 or 3 days. When the act is imminent, the cow becomes 

 uneasy, moves restlessly, leaves off eating, in the field leaves the 

 herd, lies down and rises again as if in pain, shifts upon her hind 

 feet, moves the tail, and may bellow or moan. When labor pains 

 come on the back is arched, the croup drooped, the belly is drawn 

 up, and straining is more or less violent and continuous. Meanwhile 

 blood may have appeared on the vulva and tail, and soon the clear 

 water bags protrude between the lips of the vulva. They increase 

 rapidly, hanging down toward the hocks, and the fore or hind feet 

 can be detected within them. With the rupture of the bags and 

 escape of the waters the womb contracts on the solid, angular body of 

 the fetus and is at once stimulated to more violent contractions, so 

 that the work proceeds with redoubled energy to the complete expul- 

 sion. This is why it is wrong to rupture the water bags if the pre- 

 sentation is normal, as they furnish a soft, uniform pressure for 

 the preliminary dilation of the mouth of the womb and passages, 

 in anticipation of the severe strain put upon them as the solid body 

 of the calf passes. 



The cow^ often calves standing, in which case the navel string is 

 broken as the calf falls to the ground. If, however, she is recumbent, 

 this cord is torn through as she rises. The afterpains come on 3 or 

 4 hours later and expel the membranes, which should never be left 

 longer than 24 hours. 



NATURAL PRESENTATION. 



When there is but one calf the natural presentation is that of the 

 fore feet with the front of the hoofs and knees turned upward to- 

 ward the tail of the dam and the nose lying between the knees. (PI. 

 XV.) If there are twins the natural position of the second is that of 



