124 LTVE-STOCK 



and then dress them with some antiseptic dressing. See 

 antiseptic recipes. The necks of working cattle are liable 

 to be galled in various ways. In case of simple abrasion, the 

 treatment is the same as for wounds. If the neck be inflamed 

 and swollen, foment with hot water twice daily for two or 

 three days, after which apply cold water freely and frequently. 

 Should any swelling still persist, blister the part with 

 mercury or mylabris ointment. Sometimes an abscess may 

 form, which must be opened and the contents removed and 

 the part treated as a wound. If there be any longstanding 

 cold and well circumscribed tumour, it should be dissected 

 out surgically. 



Abortion ; Miscarriage. — Abortion may happen at any period 

 between the first and the seventh month of pregnancy. If it 

 occurs after the seventh month, it is called miscarriage and 

 the young animal is born alive and is able to live for a longer 

 or shorter period. Some of the causes of abortion are injuries, 

 fright or excitement, over-driving, the presence of fungi on 

 the fodder, exposure to cold, debility, etc. Pregnant animals 

 affected with blood diseases generally abort. Sometimes 

 abortion is due to bacterial organisms and in such cases it 

 may rage as an enzootic. In every case the safest plan is to 

 segregate the cow that has aborted, to bury the calf and the 

 cleansing deeply in the ground and to disinfect the stall. 

 The animal should be nursed and carefully watched. As a 

 rule, the foetal membranes are passed investing the foetus 

 but if not and if they are retained unduly long, they should 

 be removed with the hand. An aperient of Epsom salts 

 should be given to the cow. Cows that have once aborted 

 are liable to do so at about the same stage during future 

 pregnancies. 



Retention of after -birth or placenta. — The placenta comes 

 away from ^ to 4 hours after the birth of the calf. The cow 

 must be watched till the after-birth drops, when it should be 

 removed and buried. Sometimes the placenta is retained 

 for several days without any constitutional disturbances 

 being set up. There is no danger whatsoever in allowing it 

 to remain for two or three days. If it is retained beyond 

 this, it may be removed with the hand. The practice of 

 removing the placenta forcibly when it is retained a little 

 beyond the usual time is to be condemned. 



Inversion of the womb; Downfall of the calf bag. — This may 

 occur after calving, specially when there has been difficult 

 labour. After the calf is born, the cow continues to strain 

 until the uterus is forced out. Administer a dram of gauja or 

 of opium in gruel to quiet the animal, and make it stand with 



