Diseases occurring after Parturition in Coivs and Sheep. 555 



treatise, confined his remarks as much as possible to his own per- 

 sonal observations, surgical practice, and remedies : this will 

 account for the plain style in which it is written. He has also (as 

 a member of the veterinary profession) found it a matter of some 

 little difficulty, in the construction of a report intended for the 

 information of the agricultural community at larg-e, to abstain 

 from the use of technical phrases, so that it may be generally 

 understood— a matter which he ventures to assume is of paramount 

 importance : in accordance with this view, it is proposed very 

 cursorily to notice the parts immediately connected with par- 

 turition, giving at the same time their anatomical names, which 

 will then be made use of throughout the consideration of the 

 diseases consequent upon this process. First then of the uterus. 

 This is the hollow organ known as the womb or calf-bag, and in 

 which the calf is contained, with its membranous coverings, dur- 

 ing the period of pregnancy ; these membranes, three in number, 

 constitute the placenta or after-birth. The inner surface of the 

 uterus is studded with numerous prominences, each placed at 

 some little distance from the other, and adherent to similar pro- 

 jections on the outermost covering of the foetal calf: these projec- 

 tions are denominated the cotyledons. The uterus gradually con- 

 tracts in size towards the opening leading from it, and this 

 contracted portion is termed its cervix or neck : the opening itself 

 is the OS uteri, which during pregnancy is hermetically closed, 

 but when the act of parturition commences it is capable of being 

 vastly dilated to allow the passage of the foetus. 



The OS uteri opens into a passage of some length and con- 

 siderable size ; this is the canal of the vagina, which terminates at 

 the vulva^ or external opening, familiarly known as the shape or 

 bearing ; the sides of this opening consist of two prominences, 

 designated the labia. These observations, and the nomenclature, 

 will in every particular apply to the ewe and its foetal lamb. 



The diseases incidental to the Cow will form the first part of 

 the Report, and it will be necessary for the better elucidation of 

 the subject to notice, first, the manner in which this animal should 

 be treated after natural and healthy parturition. The act of 

 delivery being fully accomplished (which includes the expulsion 

 of the placental membranes), the cow should be allowed to lick 

 and caress her offspring, and as soon as she becomes tranquil the 

 greater part of the milk contained in the udder may be withdrawn. 

 In some parts of the country it is a common practice to allov/ the 

 cow to drink this first-drawn milk, or beastings ; it is not, how- 

 ever, advisable to follow this practice, as no benefit accrues to the 

 beast, and it will disincline her to drink the warm water or thin 

 oatmeal gruel which should as speedily as possible be offered to 

 her, and supplied in liberal quantities for the succeeding twenty- 



