180 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



the bone causes narrowing of the long passage of the pelvis and the 

 crumbling fractures poorly repaired, with an excess of brittle new 

 material, may form an insuperable obstacle to parturition. Cows 

 affected in any of these ways should never again be bred, but if they 

 do get pregnant and reach full time a careful examination Avill be 

 necessary to determine whether natural parturition can take place 

 or if the calf must be extracted in pieces. (See " Embryotomy," p. 

 204.) 



OBSTRUCTION BY MASSES OF FAT. 



This is not unknown in old cows of the beef breeds, the enormous 

 masses of fat upon and within the pelvis being associated with weak- 

 ness or fatty degeneration of the muscles. If the presentation is 

 natural, little more is wanted than a judicious traction upon the fetus 

 to compress and overcome the soft resisting masses. 



OBSTRUCTION BY A FULL. BLADDER OR RECTU^NI OR BY STONE. 



In all cases of delayed or tardy parturition the evacuation of rectum 

 and bladder is important, and it is no less so in all difficult parturi- 

 tions. Stone in the bladder is fortunately rare in the cow, but when 

 present it should be removed to obviate crushing and perhaps per- 

 foration of the organ during calving. 



CALVING RETARDED BY NERVOUSNESS. 



In a public fair ground I. have seen labor pains begin early in the 

 day and keep up in a weak and insufficient manner for many hours, 

 until the stall was thoroughly closed in and the cow secluded from 

 the constant stream of visitors and the incessant noise, when at once 

 the pains became strong and effective and the calf was soon born. 



COAGULATED BLOOD UNDER THE VAGINAL WALLS. 



This is common after calving, but will sometimes occur before, as 

 the result of accidental injury. The mass may be recognized by its 

 dark hue and the doughy sensation to the touch. It may be cut into 

 and the mass turned out with the fingers, after which it should be 

 washed frequently with an antiseptic lotion (carbolic acid 1 dram in 

 1 quart of water). 



CONSTRICTION OF A MEMBER BY THE NAVEL STRING. 



In early fetal life the winding of the navel string around a limb may 

 cause the latter to be slowly cut off by absorption under the constrict- 

 ing cord. So at calving the cord wound round a presenting member 



