246 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



of elastic tubing one-third of an inch in bore should be kept at hand 

 for sucking and blowing in such cases. 



BLEEDING FROM THE NAVEL. 



This may occur in two conditions — when the cord is cut off too 

 close to the navel and left untied and when it tears off at the navel. 

 (PI. XIV.) It may also bleed when torn across naturally, if it is 

 sucked by the dam or another calf. In an animal with little plasticity 

 to its blood it will flow under almost any circumstances. When 

 any cord is left it is always safe to tie it, and it is only when it is 

 swollen and may possibly contain a loop of the bowel that there is 

 danger in doing so. By pressing upward any bulky contents such 

 danger is avoided. If torn or cut too close to be tied the bleeding 

 may be checked by applying alum, copperas, or for a fraction of a 

 second the end of an iron rod at a dull-red heat. If much blood has 

 been lost it may be requisite to transfuse several ounces of blood or 

 of a weak, common-salt solution into the open, umbilical vein. 



URINE DISCHARGED THROUGH THE NAVEL (PERSISTENT 



URACHUS). 



Before birth the urine passes from the bladder by a special tube 

 through the navel and navel string into the outer water bag (allan- 

 tois). (PI. XII.) This closes at birth, and the tube shrinks into a 

 fine cord up to the bladder. It is only in the bull calf that it is liable 

 to remain open, doubtless because of the long, narrow channel through 

 which the urine must otherwise escape. The urethra, too, is some- 

 times abnormally narrow, or even closed, in the male. If part of the 

 cord remains, it should be tied and the whole allowed to wither up 

 naturally. If the cord has been removed and the tube (urachus) 

 protrudes, discharging the urine, that alone must be tied. If there is 

 nothing pendent the urachus must be seized, covered by the skin, 

 and a curved needle being passed through the skin and above the 

 duct, it may be tied along with this skin. A blister of Spanish flies, 

 causing swelling of the skin, will often close the orifice — so with the 

 hot iron. If the urethra of the male is impervious it can rarely be 

 remedied. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE URACHUS (NAVEL URINE DUCT). 



This may originate in direct, mechanical injury to the navel in 

 calving, or shortly after, with or without the lodgment of irritant or 

 septic matter on its lacerated or cut end. The mere contact with 

 healthy urine, hitherto harmless, can now be looked on as becoming 

 suddenly irritating. The affection is usually marked by the presence 

 of redness and swelling at the posterior part of the navel and the 



