Diseases of the Organs of Generation. 317 



and wholesome buildings, and, finally, to use anti-seplics 

 on the discharges and to keep aU sound animals apart 

 from the diseased or their products. A beast abort- 

 ing, from whatever cause, should be allowed to run over 

 several periods of heat before she is served again. When 

 abortions have broken out in a herd good results have fol- 

 lowed a course of chlorate of potassa in ^ oz. doses daily. 

 When the beasts are plethoric benefit has been derived 

 from bleeding or a bare diet with occasional mild laxatives. 

 When run down by poor feeding or by early breeding and 

 feeding for milk, a course of tonics (phosphate of soda, 

 sulphate of iron, gentian and ginger,) has proved beneficial. 

 When the discharge and other premonitory symptoms ap- 

 pear laudanum may be given in large and repeated doses 

 to quiet the system and keep the tendency in check. 

 Quiet and seclusion are no less essential. "When the 

 abortion becomes inevitable it must be allowed to proceed 

 or assistance given if necessary as in parturition. 



DIFFICULT PAETUKITION. 



Parturition is easy in most of the lower animals, the 

 wedge-like outline of the fcetus when normally presented 

 with the long head extended between the fore hmbs ren- 

 dering it an afi'air of mechanical simplicity. The same is 

 true of the presentation of the two hind feet. If left to 

 nature the passages are prepared by the relaxation of the 

 ligaments of the pelvis and falling in on each side of the 

 croup ; they are then gently and equably dilated by the 

 advancing soft and elastic water-bags; and then if the 

 Ijack of the foetus is turned toward the back of the mother 

 so that the curvature of its body may correspond to that 

 of the pelvis, the process is rarely difficult or protracted. 



Danger arises mainly from parturition being precipi- 

 tated before its natural period, from unnatural conditions 

 of the passages, from distortions of the foetus or from tum- 

 bg back of one or more members so as to impair the reg- 

 ularity of the wedge and to increase the bulk posteriorly. 



