276 VETERINARY STUDIES 



Assistance 



What may be needed. — There is probably no trouble with 

 farm stock where trained and experienced veterinary assistance 

 is more urgently needed. 



Call your veterinarian promptly, if one is available. Do not 

 let all the neighbors try it first and ruin all chances for the 

 veterinarian's success — especially with mares. 



If no competent veterinarian is available, then the owner must 

 do the best he can for himself, or with the aid of a careful and 

 experienced neighbor. Plenty of bland oil, e.g. linseed, may be 

 required ; two small window cords with smooth loops in one end 

 of each loop to loop around limbs ; two similar ropes with short, 

 sharp hooks in end to hook in underjaw or eye socket or leg ; a 

 pair of small combination pulleys, possibly an embryotomy knife, 

 large trocar and cannula, some antiseptic — e.g. creolin — to be 

 used in 4 per cent solution for hands, instruments, and ropes. 

 These should be kept on hand and ready. 



Suggestions. — Do not interfere until the water bag has rup- 

 tured, unless labor pains have continued for several hours and 

 the water bag does not appear. Then examine by rectum and 

 note location of fetus. Possibly it may not yet be even in posi- 

 tion for delivery. In that case if you cannot have veterinary 

 service leave the cow alone and await normal delivery. Examine 

 by rectum every twelve hours or so to note progress. If the 

 cow is strong and the calf alive it may be born naturally a day 

 or two after the first false labor pains. 



However, if the first examination by rectum shows the calf 

 well advanced and presenting for delivery and no progress being 

 made then examine by vagina and cervix. There may be a 

 volvulus. See Volvulus in preceding lessons. If the water 

 bag ruptures, in a natural way, and the head, for example, 

 should present without the feet, or the head and one foot, or if 

 one hind foot presents and not the other, or any evidently faulty 

 presentation occurs, then it is time to call your veterinarian, 

 and plan for assistance. 



If you cannot have expert help then clean and oil the arm 

 and examine carefully to learn the cause of trouble and position 

 of fetus. Then decide what you will do and how. The rectum 

 should also be examined as the hand goes into the vagina, and if 

 distended should also be emptied. 



