264 diseases op cattle. 



Retention of the Placenta, oe Aftee-bieth.— . 

 If the cow has gone her full time with calf, and is in a 

 healtliy condition, the after-birth will not be retained long 

 after she has given birth to her calf. When a cow does 

 not cleanse properly, and within a reasonable time, there 

 is then something otherwise wrong with her health, such 

 as debility and want of vitality in the system. It is this 

 that must be looked to, and not the want of timely cleans- 

 ing that demands attention, as being the cause of the cow 

 not doing well fter calving. Remedy these existing 

 causes, and the cow will cleanse properly enough. Con- 

 trary to the generally received opinion of farmers and 

 others, the retention of the after-birth for a day or two 

 will do no harm, provided that decomposition does not 

 take place with the after-biith ; for in such cases, the 

 whole system of the cow is apt to be contaminated and 

 poisoned. 



Treatment. Cows not having cleansed properly within 

 twenty-four hours after calving, should be given the fol- 

 lowing mixture : Epsom salts, one pound; powdered ginger, 

 one ounce; powdered fcenugreek, one ounce; caraway seeds, 

 half an ounce ; mix, and give in three or four bottles of 

 warm ale, porter or warm water, sweetened with molasses. 

 This mixture not having the desu-ed effect in twelve hours, 

 the hand, well greased, should be introduced, and the 

 after-birth at the attachments, called cotyledons, gently 

 pressed. This must not be accompanied with much pulling, 

 as pressure with the finger and thumb will be all that is 

 wanted. This operation may be followed by giving the 

 cow a little warm ale or molasses water, with half an ounce 

 of powdered ergot of lye ; and in half an hour, an addi- 

 tional half ounce. This will cause contraction of the womb, 

 and expulsion of the placenta. When decomposition or 



