266 NORMAL PARTURITION. 



imitating the respiratory movements, as in a case of asphyxia, and in- 

 flating the lungs by means of a pair of bellows, acting through the 

 nostrils. So long as the heart pulsates there is a probability of restora- 

 tion to life. 



In the second form, allowing a little blood to flow from the umbilical 

 cord, and even cutting this or fomenting it w^th hot water to induce 

 hcemorrhage, is very useful, in conjunction with cold water to the head 

 and cold water enemas. But, as a rule, death is always imminent in 

 these cases of syncope. 



Genebal Care. — With the larger animals, the newly-born creature 

 should be placed before the mother, if it is not near her ; and it gene- 

 rally follows that she instinctively licks off the viscid matter which 

 30vers its skin ; and in doing this the cutaneous circulation is excited, 

 and, by sympathy, the other organs of the young animal. Conse- 

 quently, it becomes revived, soon endeavours to get up, and though it 

 may fall several times, yet it generally quickly succeeds in maintaining 

 itself on its limbs, and instinctively seeks the maternal teat. It is very 

 rare that the mother does not voluntarily, and at once, commence to 

 cleanse its progeny ; nevertheless, there are exceptions, chiefly among 

 the primiparffi, and especially when the labour has been long and 

 painful. But it will generally be found that sprinkling the young 

 animal with a little flour, bran, or salt will excite the attention of the 

 mother and induce the cleaning process. Should it not do so, then the 

 creature must be well dried and rubbed with a sponge, hay-wisp, or a 

 cloth, and kept warm. This is more particularly necessary when the 

 mother is indifi^erent to it, which sometimes happens with primiparae 

 when people are present. Indeed, some Mares become quite savage 

 after parturition, and will not allow their Foal to come near them, and 

 will even kill it ; though this most frequently happens when they are 

 tormented by spectators. Other Mares, vicious before parturition, 

 sometimes become remarkably quiet when they have a Foal by their 

 side. When they exhibit any aversion to their progeny, it is well to 

 leave them quietly together for some time. 



If the Foal or Calf is weak, and cannot reach the teat within half an 

 hour or so after birth (for in uniparous animals the mamniEe are 

 inguinal, so that the young are always suckled in a standing posture), 

 it will be found necessary to assist it by bringing it to the mother, and 

 applying the teat to its mouth, at the same time caressing and soothing 

 the parent if disinclined to it by temper or by painfulness of the udder. 

 This coaxing and handling should be performed by someone accus- 

 tomed to the animal. It may be necessary to have a second person 

 at hand to hold the Mare by the head or to lift up its fore foot. 



Sometimes from weakness or inexperience of the Foal, and temper 

 of the Mare, the former runs the risk of perishing from starvation. 

 The Mare should be safely secured, and two persons ought then to 

 push and support the yotmg animal behind by joining a hand of 

 each, while the other hands are employed in directing it towards the 

 teat, which it should be allowed to use for two or three minutes. 

 After one or two attempts of this kind, the Foal begins to find its way 

 to the udder by itself, while the Mare becomes reconciled to it. When 

 the Foal exhibits great debility, it may be preferable to feed it for a day 

 or two with the milk of the Mare, which has been drawn by hand. 



With the Cow, these difficulties are seldom present, and if an animal 



