sEijuL.E iiy I'Anrrniriox. j;.') 



and before it he,c;ins to seek for other food. It is at this period, also, 

 that growth is most rapid ; and it has been observed that Puppies 

 double their initial weight in six days only. Colin has stated that, in 

 thirty days, ten Puppies — reduced to nine on the twenty-lifth day — 

 living on the milk of the mother alone, except for the last ten days, 

 showed a total increase of 3o^ lbs., the entire weight having been 

 trebled since birth. A similar increase maybe observed in other young 

 creatures while being suckled. When, from some cause or another, the 

 progeny cannot obtain milk sufficient in quantity or proper in quality, 

 it is necessary that this be remedied. A Calf can be readily artifici- 

 ally reared in an ordinary establishment, if it has had one or two days' 

 colostrum ; or a substitute for the mother in another Cow may be pro- 

 cured. It is not so witli the Foal, which is much more dilVicult to rear, 

 and another Mare, even if procured, will not always readily play the 

 part of nurse. Nevertheless, many animals can be reared by judicious 

 and patient management, and if artificial food must be resorted to, this 

 should come as near as possible, in chemical composition, to that 

 furnished by Nature. 



In some instances, the mammary secretion may become a source of 

 embarrassment, or even of danger, when it is too abundant or is not 

 withdrawn when secreted. This happens more particularly with the 

 Bitch, Cat, Mare, or other animal which is suddenly deprived of its 

 young by death, or for special reasons ; and the retention of the milk is 

 often a cause of discomfort and disturbance, culminating not unfre- 

 quently in inflammation of the gland. In such cases the milk should 

 be withdrawn until its secretion is diminished or altogether ceases, the 

 diet limited and modified, and mild diuretics or purgatives may be 

 administered to hasten this end. Camphor, in small and frequent 

 doses, has been recommended with this object, as well as an effusion of 

 walnut-leaves and powdered white agaric. 



Whatever general treatment may be adopted in such instances, local 

 treatment must not be overlooked ; and in addition to removing as 

 much of the contents of the mammary glands as possible, these may be 

 kept healthy, or cured when congested or inflamed, by suitable treat- 

 ment. Soothing liniments or embrocation should be timeously applied 

 by friction to the skin covering them. 



SECTION II.— ORGANIC MODIFIC.VTIONS. 



Gestation and parturition being completed, it is necessary that the 

 genital organs should return to their non-puerperal state. Indeed, this 

 return to their ordinary physiological condition is commenced in the 

 uterus even during labour, and remarkable modifications occur more 

 particularly in the uterus and its membranes then, and for some time 

 afterwards' These changes are connected with the diminution of the 

 uterus in volume, alterations in its mucous membrane, and the reform- 

 ing of its cei-vix. 



The powerful contractions of the uterus during parturition, iudul)it- 

 ably tend to use up the contents of the cells of the non striped muscular 

 fibre composing its middle coat ; the simultaneous compression of the 

 capillaries and afferent vessels preventing the expended protoplasm 

 from being replaced. After the expulsion of the ftetus and its mem- 

 branes, this wasting or degeneration of these fibres continues: the 

 uterus still contracting at inten-als, and producing those sensations 



