THE FEMALE GENEEATIVE OEQANS. 445 



when necessary, before the patient's strength begins to 

 flag, and may even be the means of saving both calf and 

 mother. It is also indicated when some deformity of the 

 cow or calf absolutely prevents expulsion in the usual way. 

 The ordinary signs of parturition are swelling and 

 occurrence of milk in the mammary gland, discharge of 

 thick mucus from the vulval opening with swelling of 

 the labia and relaxation of the pelvic ligaments. Then 

 the animal separates from the herd and manifests signs 

 of discomfort. The os uteri enlarges and gradually there 

 flows a watery fluid, liquor allantoides. The animal may 

 assume the recumbent position or remain standing. For 

 some time labour-pains will have been observed ; they 

 gradually increase in severity and frequency. The 

 amnion is next seen protruding as a bladder containing fluid 

 (" water bladder '') from the opening. Soon the fore feet of 

 the young animal appear, and then the head resting on the 

 fore legs ; finally, it is entirely expelled and falls slowly to 

 the ground, the umbilical cord being often ruptured in the 

 fall. The process of parturition generally occupies upwards 

 of an hour ; its duration varies with the constitution of the 

 cow. When more than one calf is present, the second may 

 be retained some time after the expulsion of the first, and 

 the third after the second. The chorion may not be ex- 

 pelled for several hours, or even days, as its cotyledon ary 

 union with the uterine mucous membrane is complex. The 

 process of removal is termed '^ Cleansing/' and the pro- 

 duct the " After-birth." In case of Retention op the 

 F(ETAL Membeanes it is advisable to remove them, for 

 sometimes they decompose in the cavity of the uterus 

 and give rise to septic disorder of the system. It seems 

 probable that their retention is due to entanglement as a 

 result of uterine contractions, but it also is attributable 

 to want of the necessary efforts in consequence of debility. 

 In natural cases a slight recurrence of pains brings about 

 their expulsion through the os uteri, which is still un- 

 relaxed, and when these do not seem to be very effectual 

 traction may be applied on the protruding portion of 

 the cord, the efforts coinciding to the pains. A more 



