CALVING. 307 



Natural Calving.— -This resembles the fruit when 

 ripe, breaking from its attachment to the parent tree, 

 and falling into the lap of mother earth. If the pelvic 

 bones are well or proportionably formed in the cow, 

 and the presentation and size of the calf be right, no 

 trouble need be apprehended, and the cow may be left to 

 herself. The natural presentation at full time, and of a 

 full grown calf, is as follows : The amnion, or waterbag 

 having been ruptured or broken, there will be seen the 

 fore legs and head of the calf resting upon the two feet, 

 and protruding a little. If, however, the cow should 

 labor long with the calf in this position, and she is 

 weak and thin in' flesh, she may be assisted: this can be 

 done by taking hold of the two feet and part of the 

 head, and when the cow makes an effort to strain, pull at 

 the calf. If sufficient force cannot be applied by the 

 hands, then place a soft but stout rope round the feet 

 of the calf, and apply traction or force. Be- 

 fore any force whatever is used^ be sure that the 

 mouth of the womb is sufficiently dilated; for if this be 

 not the case, then by using force the womb is torn or 

 ruptured, and the death of the cow is the result. Be 

 patient, and time, the prover of all things, will also prove 

 the wisdom of waiting. If after delay, however, both 

 cow and calf should be lost, be consoled by the fact, that 

 it is likely the one or both would have been lost any way ; 

 for there will be found some one or other of those mal- 

 formations, either in the pelvis or arch of the pubis of 

 the cow, or an undue proportion of the size of the calf 

 to the pelvic arch through which it is has to pass, to be 

 delivered. In all cases where the calf presents itself in 

 the form above described, and delivery of the calf is not 

 efi"ected, rest assured that the pelvic arch of the mother 



