72 RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



ception. This is also the proper treatment when barrenness is 

 caused by retention of the placenta, but it is advisable to admin- 

 ister tonics which are hereinafter mentioned. When the placenta is 

 retained it should always be removed by hand within forty-eight 

 hours after parturition to avoid these abnormal conditions, as the 

 prevention is much easier than the cure. 



When barrenness is due to the existence of abortive germs, you 

 must use a stronger antiseptic solution to destroy these germs. For 

 this purpose make a 1 to 2,000 solution of bichloride of mercury and 

 flush the genitals as above directed, always being careful to have 

 the solution at body temperature and all utensils and instruments 

 thoroughly clean. The bichloride solution must not be prepared in 

 a tin or metal vessel ; a wooden bucket is probably the most prac- 

 tical and economical in this case. A gallon of the solution is the 

 average amount used for each flushing in the latter case. If tumors 

 or abnormal growths exist, they must be removed surgically and 

 the bichloride solution will do to use as an antiseptic to effect a 

 proper course of healing. When you have succeeded in restoring 



the genitals to their natural condition, by pursuing the above course, 

 you may start to breed the cow again, being careful that everything 

 is normal before you start. When barrenness is due to abortion or 

 there has been a catarrhal condition of the genitals for some time, 

 you will find them greatly depoverished and in need of stimulants 

 and tonics to be given within in order to restore them to their natu- 

 ral vigor and functional activity. 



In cases of the third kind, when there is a faulty development 

 of the genitals, you will frequently find it due to high feeding and 

 inbreeding for a special purpose, thus developing the nervous sys- 

 tem for this special purpose at the expense of the organs of repro- 

 duction. It is for this reason that you will find more barren cows 

 in herds that are fancy bred than in the more common ones. Of 

 course you may answer to this that the common cow or animal is 

 not so valuable and is, therefore, sold for beef without delay. This 

 is true, but if there were some means of keeping actual count, you 

 would surely see the well-bred female ranking much higher in num- 

 ber among the barren ones than those of common blood. 



After ascertaining the cause of barrenness and removing it as 

 previously described, you are now ready to build up the genital 

 organs, which are either impoverished from the existence of ab- 

 normal conditions, or are ill-developed naturally. Both of these 

 conditions must be treated by administering such agents as act di- 

 rectly upon these organs and favor such repairs and developments 



