5-1 \i- ri';ki',iKTH RErAixi'D. 



AFTERBIRTH RETAINED. 



■| he rutciiliMii ,,i (he aflerljii-lh or ].lacciita (nr failure lu clean hcyuiul a certain 

 lime after tlic expulsuni nf tile foetus i ir calf fruni the uterus) uiust lie looked upon 

 as an unnatural ciindili, m which requires attcntinn. The afterljirth should be shed 

 iir expelled sn^n after the foetus is dropiied or the calf is born. With Vuminants 

 (or animals that chew the cud) rctcntiMii of the afterbirth is not unconinioii, though 

 e\cn in thciii there is a dift'erence in this respect according to species, it being more 

 coniniiin in the cow llian ill the sheeii or goat. 



d his frequencN of retained aftcibirtli in the rinninant animals is doubtless due 

 to its iieculiar conforniation or builon-bke fastenings. 



Cow Ruined As A Profit Producer. 



While a cou' iiia\" .appear to be little incomenieiiced bi.v the retention (if the 

 afterbirth, at the same time she is, if neglected, being slowly ruined as a milker, 

 breeder, or prolit producer. 



Neglected Cow Endangers the Whole Herd. 



.\ COW" that has retained her afterbirth is not only being ruined as a profit 

 preiducer by liein.g ne.glected, her milk wall not onl\' be short in (|u.antity, poor in 

 quality, liut absolutely unfit tor human use. She may be also actin.g as a hotbed 

 for the propagation of the germs of infections Aliortioii and Tulierculosis. These 

 may be brou.glit on li\- decomposition of the retained afterbirth. 



The Herd Bull Liable to Infection. 



.\s this continues the animal absorlis the peiisonous formations of matter wdiich 

 causes her to grenv weak and lose flesh rapidly, thus jiutting her in a condition 

 so that wdien she is bred to the herd bull she m;i\' infect him witli the germ of 

 infections abortion and he is then in a condition to spread the disease. 



In this manner the disease of infectious abortion ma}- lie introduced into a herd 

 and great loss caused. 



Danger of Tuberculosis. 



Idiis same ceiw, in her run-down condition, may also contract tuberculosis, and 

 then expose the entire herd. 



How To Know^ It. 



Usually there is more or less of the foetal envelopes protruding and hanging 

 from the vulva orifice, though sometimes only the umbilical cord is to be seen. 

 Occasionally the mass is so large as to hang below the hocks wdth little sacks 

 of liquid at the Iciwcr end. If recently expelled, it has a fresh tint, not materially 

 different from that of the intestines; but if exposed for some time, especially in 

 the summer, it becomes ,gre\ish in color. 



Decomposition soon sets in, es]iecially in the exposeil iiarts, and as putrefaction 

 progresses the odor liecomes \ ery oftensive, and thin, bloody, brown tinted dis- 

 charges, composed of the decrMii|ioscd parts of the membrane and secretions from 

 the irritated mucous lining of the genital canal, flow from the vulva, soiling the 

 tail, thighs and hocks, tiiid often making them sore. 



Cow Health In Danger. 



As these causes continue, the liealth of the animal suffers. Oftentimes there 

 is dullness, prostration, decreased dou' of milk, loss of appetite, quickened respira- 

 tion and increased temperature ami other indicatiiins of illness. 



Retention of the afterbirth occurs imjst freiiuently in cases of abortion or 

 when liirtli occurs some da^s before the proper lime. Usually a cow that has 

 retained the afterbirth at its hrst calf will do so at each succeeding birth. 



