336 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



will not come until properly arranged, and when so arranged, 

 it is likely to come fairly easy. . The task is all the more difficult 

 because it is very trying on the arm of the operator, as the arm 

 of the strongest man is likely to become numb working in such 

 positions. If the passages have lost their natural lubricating 

 liquid and become dry, smear the interior of the passages, the 

 womb, and the surface of the calf as far as can be reached with 

 fresh lard or sweet oil. In pulling on the fetus, draw only 

 while the cow is straining. When pulling, draw downward 

 toward the hocks as well as backward, as the natural curvature 

 of both fetus and passages are thus followed and the extraction 

 of the fetus rendered easy. If the pains of the cow are violent 

 and long continued, they may be checked by pinching the back 

 or by placing a tight surcingle around the body in front of the 

 udder. If the pains continue, one to one-and-one-half ounces of 

 chloral hydrate in a quart of water may be given to check them. 

 Retained afterbirth. — The cow of all farm animals is especially 

 subject to this difficulty. When the afterbirth is retained it 

 decomposes and is discharged as a yellow or reddish fluid, 

 having an extremely offensive odor. This discharge is most 

 apparent when the cow is lying down and while she ruminates. 

 The rear parts of the cow, rump, tail, and vulva are soiled by the 

 discharge, which often contains lumps of decomposing material. 

 To avoid this, the afterbirth should be removed within twenty- 

 four or thirty-six hours after calving. To do this, a simple 

 method which is often effective is to hang a small weight, not 

 to exceed one or two pounds, to the hanging portion of the after- 

 birth and allow this by its constant dragging and by its jerking 

 effect as the cow moves along to pull the membranes from their 

 attachments and to stimulate the womb to expulsive contrac- 

 tions. In neglected cases when the hanging mass is already 

 badly decomposed this cannot be done, as the membrane is 

 hable to tear under the added weight, leaving a part of the 

 material in the womb. If the bowels are constipated, a physic 



