

THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 261 



ring-like exostosis, and the beast is crippled, and hobbles 

 along, suffering great pain at every step. In these cases, 

 neurotomy that is, dividing, or rather cutting away, a small 

 portion of the sentient nerve which supplies these parts is 

 recommended by Mr. Youatt; indeed, he was the first to 

 propose it, and his plan has been found successful. This 

 operation can be performed only by the veterinary surgeon. 



GESTATION AND PARTURITION 



The natural period of gestation is generally stated as two 

 hundred and seventy days, or nine calendar months, but 

 there is considerable variation in this respect ; according to 

 the experience of some breeders, the average is two hundred 

 and eighty-four, or two hundred and eighty-five days ; some- 

 times the period is still longer, and under these circumstances 

 the offspring mostly prove to be bull-calves. The pregnancy 

 of a cow may be determined by a practised ear, or by means 

 of the stethoscope, in as early a stage of it as six or eight 

 weeks. If the ear or instrument be applied to the right flank, 

 beginning on the superior part of it, and shifted backwards 

 and downwards, the pulsation of the head of the fo3tal calf 

 will soon be heard, twice as frequent at least as that of the 

 parent ; each pulsation will betray the double beating of the 

 foetal heart, and the rushing of blood through the vessels ot 

 the placenta will at the same time be audible. 



The cow has now to nourish the foetus ; still for some 

 months, if in good condition and not half-starved, little differ- 

 ence will be perceived in the quantity of milk yielded. At 

 length the decline of milk is palpable, and for a month or 

 three weeks at least before the anticipated time of calving, 

 she should be allowed to dry. Cows in poor condition should 

 be dried at least two months before calving, otherwise from 

 deficiency of nutriment the calf will be stunted, weakly, and, 

 even if it live, of little worth. Too high and luxurious feed- 

 ing must on the other hand be avoided, for fever and inflam- 

 mation are then apt to follow parturition. 



Besides the reasons for drying the cow before calving to 

 which we have alluded, another is, that if the animal be 

 milked too long, so that on calving the new milk descends 

 into the udder, while the flow of the old milk continues, there 

 is imminent danger either of puerperal fever, or of inflam- 

 mation of the udder. Experience has abundantly proved 

 that on these grounds alone, the cow (though yielding a 



