76 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



examined. But the following must be remembered as regards 

 infection : 



The perinseum, the labise and surroundings, as also the 

 tail, are to be thoroughly cleansed with soap and luke- 

 warm water. It is well to do this at the outset of parturi- 

 tion, although micturition and defsecation during the pre- 

 paratory stage may require a second cleansing. The tail 

 is held to one side by an assistant. The obstetrician 

 washes hands and arms with soap and warm water, rinsing 

 both with carbolized or creolinized water, and dresses them 

 with pure oil. Of course he should take care to cut the finger 

 nails and remove any dirt which may be below the nails. 

 After this precaution he may proceed to make an exploration. 

 When this examination is made before the cervix is fully 

 dilated, he still finds the calf in its intrauterine position ; that 

 is, lying on its side which is normal, and which by rotation is 

 changed into the abdominal one later. At the end of normal 

 parturition the task of the obstetrician has not yet ended. 

 The animal, fatigued and exhausted from the act of parturition, 

 usually lies quiet for a time. He now takes care that the 

 position of the cow be such that the hind-quarters are not 

 lying too low. Such a position causes violent after-pains 

 which may produce e version of the uterus. Many breeders, 

 therefore, induce the cow to rise as soon as possible. The cow 

 should now be rubbed down well to stimulate cutaneous circu- 

 lation and to equalize the changed circulatory condition. 



Food at first should be of easy digestion and not too 

 plentiful. Warm gruels of linseed, wheat or barley flour and a 

 little hay are best. Green food or cold water must not be given. 

 (In our country, whei'e cows are generally used to green food, 

 no harm will follow its moderate ingestion. — W.) 



Blood and dirt are removed from the udder by soap and 

 warm water, and the cow is milked. 



The animal now enters the post-partum period. The 

 expulsion of the foetal membranes is yet to occur. Other pre- 

 cautions which are to be taken at this stage are fully treated 

 under the processes of involution. 



