Breeding and Some of Its Effects. 167 



the membrane be accomplished inside of 24 hours. Ee- 

 moval of the membranes by hand in sows would be diffi- 

 cult owing to the smallness of the genital passage, for 

 such purpose 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of fluid extract of ergot, 

 repeated if necessary in half an hour, will often have the 

 desired effect, in ewes Stewart recommends an infusion 

 of laurel berries and aniseed. The membranes may be 

 left in cows without ill effect for two or three days, a 

 longer time especially in warm weather should not elapse 

 before removal is performed, if left for a longer time 

 putrefactive changes begin, the cow falls off in her milk, 

 the appetite gets poor, she gets dull and feverish, and 

 smells badly, shows loss of flesh and may eventually 

 show signs of blood poisoning due to absorption of the 

 products of putrefaction, a cow once allowed to show the 

 symptoms stated is hard to bring back to her natural 

 good health, in fact is usually ruined to all intents and 

 purposes. Bemoval should be performed somewhat as 

 follows: bare the hands and arms, and anoint with car- 

 bolized oil, never neglect this precaution or blood poison- 

 ing and death may be the result; introduce one hand and 

 with the fingers loosen the cotyledons separately by run- 

 ning the first and second fingers each side of the cotyle- 

 don and the thumb on top, press down with the thumb 

 and lift with the fiDgers, thus practically skinning the 

 membrane off the buttons (cotyledons); before removal 

 of the membrane a button feels very smooth, after removal 

 it feels rough to the touch; the other hand should be em- 

 ployed to take up the slack, thus gradually removing 

 the afterbirth; considerable time is necessary for the 

 proper performance of the work when one is told that 



