DISEASES OF THE GENEEATIVE OKGANS. 177 



CALVING RETARDED BY NERVOUSNESS. 



In a public fair ground I have seen labor pains begin early in the 

 day and keep up in a weak and insufficient manner for many hours, 

 until the stall was thoroughly closed in and the cow secluded from 

 the constant stream of visitors and the incessant noise, when at once 

 the pains became strong and effective and the calf was soon born. 



COAGULATED BLOOD UNDER THE VAGINAL WALLS. 



This is common after calving, but sometimes occurs before, as 

 the result of accidental injury. The mass may be recognized by its 

 dark hue and the doughy sensation to the touch. It may be cut into 

 and the mass turned out with the fingers, after which it should be 

 washed frequently with an antiseptic lotion (carbolic acid 1 dram in 

 1 quart of water). 



CONSTRICTION OF A MEMBER BY THE NAVEL STRING. 



In early fetal life the winding of the navel string around a limb may 

 cause the latter to be slowly cut off by absorption under the constrict- 

 ing cord. So at calving the cord wound round a presenting member 

 may retard progress somewhat, and though the calf may still be born 

 tardily by the unaided efforts of the mother, it is liable to come still- 

 born, because the circulation in the cord is interrupted by compres- 

 sion before the offspring can reach the open air and commence to 

 breathe. If, therefore, it is possible to anticipate and prevent this 

 displacement and compression of the na'vel string it should be clone, 

 but if this is no longer possible, then the extraction of the calf should 

 be effected as rapidh^ as possible, and if breathing is not at once 

 attempted it should be started by artificial means. 



WATER IN THE HEAD OF THE CALF (HYDROCEPHALUS). 



This is an enormous distention of the cavity holding the brain, by 

 reason of the accumulation of liquid in the internal cavities (ventri- 

 cles) of the brain substance. The head back of the eyes rises into a 

 great rounded ball (PI. XIX, figs. 4 and 5), which proves an insuper- 

 able obstacle to parturition. The fore feet and nose being the parts 

 presented, no progress can be made, and even if the feet are pulled 

 upon the nose can not l)y any means be made to appear. The oiled 

 hand introduced into the passages will feel the nose presenting be- 

 tween the fore limbs, and on passing the hand back over the face the 

 hard rounded mass of the cranium is met with. A sharp-pointed 

 knife or a cannula and trocar should be introduced in the palm of the 

 hand and pushed into the center of the rounded mass so as to evacu- 

 ate the water. The hand is now used to press together the hitherto 

 distended but thin and fragile walls, and the calf may be delivered 

 33071°— 16 12 



