AurHYXJA OF THE XEU'IlOJLX AMMAL. 701 



BOOK VI. 



DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES OF THE YOUNG ANIMAL. 



The diseases and abnormalities of the young animal, observed imme- 

 diately after birth, are, many of them, of the greatest importance, and 

 deserve far more attention than they have yet received in this country. 

 Their consideration forms an appropriate complement to what has been 

 said as to the pathology of the parturient state of the parent ; and a 

 notice of them, however brief and imperfect it may be, is all the more 

 necessary, as few, if any of them, are referred to in works on veterinary 

 medicine or surgery. They will be described in the following order : — 

 (1) Asphi/xia, (2) Umbilical Hcemorrhage, (3) Persistence of the Urachus, 

 (4) Umbilical Hernia, (5) CEdema of the Umbilicus, (6) Inflammation of 

 the Umbilical Cord, (7) Arthritis, (8) Indigestion, (9) Gastro-intestinal 

 Catarrh, (10) Dysentery of Young Animals, (11) Betention of Meconium, 

 (12) Eclampsia of Young Animals, (13) Tetanus Agnorum, (14) Cyanosis, 

 (lo) Skin Dryness, (16) Iinperforatc Anus, (17) Imperforate Vulva and 

 Vagina, (18) Imperforate Prepuce, (19) Occlusion of the Eyelids, (20) Oc- 

 clusion of the Auditory Canal, (21) Tongue-tie, (22) Cleft Palate. 



CHAPTEE L 

 Asphyxia of the New-born Animal. 



At p. 265, under the head of " Suspended Animation," allusion was 

 made to asphyxia of the new-born animal — a condition similar to that 

 of the new-born child — and brief mention was made of the measures 

 necessaiy for restoration. The immediate cause of this condition was 

 also referred to. It has been recognised that when animals ai-e sub- 

 mitted during pregnancy to insufficient food, to severe exertion, have 

 sutTered from chest disease, or from colic a short time before parturition, 

 or when labour has been difficult and protracted, the young creature at 

 birth is often so exhausted that it lies apparently dead — all the tissues 

 being pale and flaccid and the body low in temperature, while the 

 heart's beats and the respiratory movements are very feeble or quite 

 imperceptible. 



There may also be syncope or asphyxia from pletliora or cyanosis; 

 asphyxia may likewise be due to interrupted circulation in the umbilical 

 cord, and intra-uterine respiration. 



Apparent death, or suspended animation, must be treated in the 

 manner indicated at p. 265. The mouth and trachea should be 

 cleared of mucus and amniotic fluid, if any of the latter has passed 

 into the air passages ; as it may give rise to pneumonia should the 

 creature be resuscitated and live for a short time. With the Calf or 

 Foal, it is possible to pass an elastic tube or catheter thi-ough the nostril 

 into the trachea, and by means of a syringe to remove much of the fluid 

 therefrom. 



Aspersion of the skin with cold water, or flicking it with a wet towel, 

 may also be useful in stimulating the respiratory nerve-centre, by the 

 reflex action it induces. This is more particularly indicated when 

 asphyxia is due to an excess of carbonic acid in the blood. Stimulation 



