THB DAIRY HERD 117 



ously impairing the health of the animal. Blood poison- 

 ing may also result from the prolonged retention of the 

 afterbirth. 



INVERSION OF THE WOMB. 



Severe straining after calving may cause the further 

 portion of the womb to protrude through the opening 

 leading into it, thus causing an inversion of the organ. 

 In this inverted condition a portion or all of it may pass 

 out of the vagina. As soon as this is noticed, wash and 

 disinfect the protruded portion and push it back into its 

 normal position. This done, apply a truss or pessary to 

 hold the womb in position until the straining or expul- 

 sive movements cease. 



TUBERCULOSIS. 



Cause. This disease is caused by a specific organism 

 known as the tubercle bacillus. The germs are commonly 

 inhaled, though they may also be taken into the body 

 through the food. Unsanitary stabling, lack of nourish- 

 ment, and inherent constitutional weakness, are greatly 

 responsible for the prevalence of this disease. 



Symptoms. A short cough, enlargement of the lymph 

 glands at the throat, emaciation, and a general unthrifty 

 appearance. In its early stages it is difficult, however, to 

 detect the disease except by the tuberculin test. 



The Tuberculin Test. The usefulness of this test as 

 a diagnostic agent rests upon the fact that when a sub- 

 stance called "tuberculin" is injected under the skin of 

 an animal, the injection is followed by a rise of tempera- 

 ture in infected animals, while in those unaffected the 

 temperature remains the same. It must be added, how- 

 ever, that in the last stages of the disease, tuberculin fails 



