264 NORMAL PARTURITIOX. 



ceptible to cold at this period. A gallon or so of nourishing, tepid gruel, 

 or even soup, may be given ; after which the diet should be moderate 

 and easily digested. Clean dry litter should be plentifully supplied, and 

 the animal left alone for half an hour or so, after which it may be 

 visited, offered more gruel, and the offspring assisted to the teat, if it 

 has not already found it. From three to eight, or even fifteen days' r€st 

 should be allowed, according to circumstances, and in order to permit 

 lactation to be fully established, and the animal quite recovered. 



When parturition has been protracted, and the animal has suffered 

 much, and especially if the generative organs have been bruised and 

 lacerated, nursing should be continued longer, and greater precautions 

 adopted. Every care ought to be taken to prevent metritis or metro- 

 peritonitis ; and with this object in view tepid vaginal injections, to 

 which may be added a little permanganate of potassium or chloral, may 

 be employed : warm cloths being applied to the loins, the animal allowed 

 light diet, with small doses of sulphate of magnesia, and kept clean in 

 a good stable, and in a pure atmosphere. 



When the animals are old, weak, or exhausted by protracted labour, 

 or if there has been hgemorrhage, stimulants should be administered, 

 and strengthening food allowed. Sometimes the debility is so extreme 

 that the animal scarcely gives any indication of life. There is then all 

 the more need for careful nursing and quietude. Friction to the surface 

 of the body, clothing, and a good bed are particularly necessary ; and as 

 lactation is established with difficulty in these cases, this must be 

 attended to. It must be borne in mind that cold and damp are danger- 

 ous immediately, and indeed for some time after, parturition. There- 

 fore, when turned out to pasture care should be taken to afford protec- 

 tion in bad weather, and damp cold localities should be avoided. 



With regard to Ewes, if the weather is mild and the situation 

 favourable, protection is not required ; but if cold w^inds and wet pre- 

 vail, then shelter is necessary. When more than one Lamb is likely 

 to be produced, the first should be kept warm and receive a little Cow's 

 milk diluted with water, until the Ewe has finished lambing. Twin 

 Lambs may easily be reared by a strong mother, if supplied with a 

 sufficiency of suitable food ; but, as a rule, if there are more than two, 

 they should be put to another Ewe or reared artificially. In order to 

 overcome the repugnance so often manifested by the Ewe to a strange 

 Lamb, if its own has died, the foster-Lamb may be rubbed with the 

 skin of the dead creature, or the two may be placed together during 

 the night, or even put into a dark shed along with a Dog, which will 

 induce the Ewe to protect and take to the Lamb. 



The Goat is more exposed to long and difficult parturition than the 

 Sheep, and not unfrequently requires assistance. The same care is 

 necessary as for the Sheep. 



The Sow generally suffers from weakness and prostration after 

 parturition, and requires plenty of nourishing and easily-digested food. 

 When this is given there is less likelihood of the animal devouring 

 its young, and all the more so if it is not irritated by the presence of 

 people. 



The Bitch should not be allow^ed to rear too many Puppies, and 

 w^armth, a dry abode, and good food must not be withheld. The Bitch 

 does i:iot readily take to strange puppies ; sprinkling these with some of 

 its milk has been sometimes successful. Constipation is not unfrequent 

 after parturition, and this may be removed by castor-oil or manna. 



