DISEASES FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 223 



fio;. 2) in which the fetal membranes dovetail with the follicles of the 

 womb. It is also most liable to occur after abortion, in which prepara- 

 tion has not been made by fatty degeneration for the severance of 

 these close connections. In the occun-ence of inflammation, causing 

 the formation of new tissue between the membranes and the womb, 

 we find the occasion of unnaturally firm adhesions which prevent the 

 spontaneous detachment of the membranes. Again, in low conditions 

 of health and an imperfect power of contraction we find a potent 

 cause of retention, the general debility showing particularly in the 

 indisposition of the womb to contract^ after calving, with sufficient 

 energy to expel the afterbirth. Hence we find the condition common 

 with insufficient or innutrious food, and in years or localities in 

 which the fodder has suffered from weather. Ergoted (PI. V), 

 smutty, or musty fodder, by causing abortion, is a frequent cause of 

 retention. Old cows are more subject than young ones, probably 

 because of diminishing vigor. A temporary retention is sometimes 

 due to a too rapid closure of the neck of the womb after calving, 

 causing strangidation and imprisonment of the membranes. Con- 

 ditions favoring this are the drinking of cold (iced) water, the eat- 

 ing of cold food (frosted roots), and (through sympathy between 

 udder and womb) a too prompt sucking by the calf or milking by 

 the attendant. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of retention of the afterljii'th are usu- 

 ally only too evident, as the membranes hang from the vulva and rot 

 away graduallj^, causing the most offensive odor throughout the 

 building. When retained within the womb by closure of its mouth 

 and similarly in cases in which the protruded part has rotted off, the 

 decomposition continues and the fetid products escaping by the vulva 

 appear in offensively smelling pools on the floor, and mat together the 

 hairs near the root of the tail. The septic materials retained in the 

 womb cause inflammation of its lining membi-ane, and this, together 

 with the absorption into the blood of the products of putrefaction, 

 leads to ill health, emaciation, and drying up of the milk. 



Treatment. — -Treatment will vary according to the conditions. 

 AVhen the cow is in low condition, or when retention is connected 

 with drinking iced water or eating frozen food, hot drinks and hot 

 mashes of wheat bran or other aliment may be all sufficient. If 

 along with the above conditions, the bowels are someAvhat confined, 

 an ounce of ground ginger, or half an ounce of black pepper, given 

 with a quart of sweet oil, or 1| pounds of Glauber's salt, the latter 

 in at least 4 quarts of warm water, will often prove effectual. A 

 l)ottle or two of flaxseed tea, made by prolonged boiling, should also 

 be given at frequent intervals. Other stimulants, like rue, savin, 

 laurel, and carminatives like anise, cumin, and coriander are preferred 

 by some, but with very questionable reason, the more so that the first 



