80 BOVINE OBSTETRICS 



When the calf is born, the whole skin of the body is 

 covered with a dirty, slimy, yellow mass, the vernix caseosa. In 

 some calves the color of the mass is intensely yellow. It con- 

 sists principally of skin secretions and amniotic fluid. The cow, 

 when the calf is placed before her, licks it, and many even turn 

 it over with the horns to lick off the vernix caseosa. This 

 irritates the skin and stimulates respiration reflexly. lb is 

 advisable to allow the mother to stimulate the function of the 

 skin in this manner. If this is impossible, or where the cow 

 refuses it, the calf must be rubbed dry. Soon after birth the 

 calf attempts to rise ; while meeting with little difficulties at 

 first, it finally succeeds, and the animal stands with fore and 

 hind legs spread apart trying to sustain equilibrium. 



As a rule shortly after birth, rarely during parturition, the 

 first defiBcation takes place, when a part of the meconium is 

 expelled. The meconium, or foetal fseces, forms the contents of 

 the intestinal tube during intrauterine life. It consists of an 

 amniotic fluid which has been swallowed, respectively constitu- 

 ents which may happen to be contained in that fluid, as hairs, 

 epidermal scales, intestinal epithelium, mucus, coloring matter 

 and biliary constituents. In color meconium appears as a 

 yellowish, pitch-like mass, filling the whole of the intestinal 

 canal. Its color is yellow and its consistency thinner in the 

 small intestines. Inspissation of the fseces in the colon is 

 already a resorptive ante-partum process. The first defsecation 

 may be caused by the press.ure exerted by the diaphragm 

 during the first respiration upon the intestinal mass, as well as 

 by a collateral hypersemia following chilling of the skin (EUen- 

 berger). 



The first milk or colostrum which the calf receives may 

 increase peristalsis ; being rich in fats and salts, it has some- 

 what laxative properties. It is frequently a fact, that ingestion 

 of colostrum is followed by intestinal evacuation. It is there- 

 fore advisable to give it to the calf. 



Micturition takes place soon after parturition. The fundus 

 of the bladder contracts after rupture of the urachus and 

 umbilical cord. 



