CALVING. 311 



lessen the size of the calf, thereby securing the delivery 

 of a mutilated calf, but a living cow. The subject is far 

 from being at this point exhausted, but we have gone 

 sufficiently far for our pages: we will now proceed to an- 

 other subject connected with calving, and that is the re- 

 tention of the after-birth, or retentw seeundinarium^ as it 

 is called, or, as the dairy folks say, the cow has not yet 

 cleansed. 



Retention of the Placenta, or After-birth. — If 

 the cow has gone her full time with calf, and is in a 

 healthy condition, the after-birth will not be retained 

 long after she has given birth to her calf. When a cow 

 does not cleanse properly, and within a reasonable time 

 there is then something otherwise wrong with her health, 

 such as debility and want of vitality in the system: it is 

 this that must be looked to, and not the want of timely 

 cleansinor that demands attention, as beinoj the cause 

 of the cow not doing well after calving. Remedy these 

 existing causes, and the cow will cleanse properly enough. 

 Contrary to the generally received opinion of farmers 

 and others, the retention of the after-birth for a day or 

 two will do no harm, provided that decomposition does 

 not take place with the after-birth ; for in such cases, the 

 whole system of the cow is apt to be contaminated and 

 poisoned. 



Treatment. — Cows not having cleansed properly within 

 twenty-four hours after calving, should take the following 

 mixture given: — Epsom salts, one pound; powdered gin- 

 ger, one ounce ; powdered foenugreek, one ounce ; carra- 

 way seeds, half an ounce; mix, and give in three or four 

 bottles of warm ale, porter or warm water, sweetened with 

 molasses. This mixture not having the desired effect 

 in twelve hours, the hand, well greased, should be intro- 



