INTBETBD WOMB. 145 



cases is to say that the lamb should be pushed bach into tho 

 womb, and either placed in natural position or its hinder legs 

 allowed to come first into the vagina. A lamb is born 

 perfectly safely with its hind feet first. In applying force to 

 puU away the lamb, it should always be exerted if practicable 

 simultaneously with the efforts of nature toward the same 

 end, provided the throes are continued and are of reasonably 

 frequent occurrence. But on the other hand, if a throe occurs 

 while the hand of the operator is in the womb, he should at 

 once suspend every movement imtU the throe is over, or else 

 there will be great danger of his rupturing the womb — a 

 calamity always fatal. But if the throes are suspended, or 

 only recur faintly and at long intervals, and the strength is 

 failing, the operator should, as a dernier resort, attempt to 

 get away the lamb independently of them ; and he may even, 

 where death is certain without it, use a degree of force that 

 would be justifiable under no other circumstances. 



The English shepherds administer cordials to their ewes 

 during protracted labors to increase their efforts or to keep 

 up their strength. In some cases, they give ginger and the 

 ergot of rye * — in others oatmeal gruel and linseed.f They 

 also sometimes administer restoratives after long and exhaust- 

 ing parturition. One of these is thus compounded: — To 

 half a pint of oatmeal gruel is added a giU. of sound beer 

 warmed, and from two to four drachms of laudanum. This is 

 given and repeated at intervals of three or four hours, as the 

 case may require ; the same quantities of nitric ether being 

 substituted for the laudanum if the pain is less violent and 

 the animal seems to rally a little. J The diseases occurring 

 after parturition, wiU be mentioned among the general 

 diseases of sheep. 



Invbeted Womb. — The womb is sometimes inverted and 

 appears externally — especially when parturition has been 

 severe, and force applied for the extraction of the foetus. It 

 should be very carefully cleansed of any dirt with tepid 

 water — washed with strong alum- water — or a decoction of 

 oak bark — and then returned. If again protruded, its return 

 should be followed by taking a stitch (rather deep, to prevent 

 tearing out,) with small twine, through the lips of the vagina, 



* Youatt on Sheep, 502. Amounts not stated. 



t Spooner on Sheep, 360. Amounts not stated. 



t See W. C. Sibbald's prize report "On the Diseases occurring after Parturition 

 in Cows and Sheep, and their Eemedies," Jour, of Eoyal Ag'l Soc. of England, Vol. 

 12, p. 654. 



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