Diseases occurring after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 567 



rated, is to be dreaded on account of the probability of its exciting 

 inflammation of the quarter. Modern veterinary surgery has 

 given birth to a plan for closing these openings with some of the 

 various adhesive substances now so much in vogue, such as 

 solutions of gutta-percha or collodion ; these substances must be 

 applied with a small soft brushy and as each successive layer gets 

 dry another should be applied, until a sufficient thickness is laid 

 on to suit the views of the operator. 



Not unfrequently the flow of milk through one or more of the 

 teats is obstructed by a small moveable tumour or tumours, about 

 the size of peas, descending into the passage. A small metallic 

 probe should be passed up the teat, which will push them back 

 into the udder, and they will often remain there without causing 

 any further inconvenience. If they continue troublesome, it may 

 be advisable to cut down upon them, or slit up the teat, to effect 

 their removal ; but there is great fear to be apprehended of a 

 fistulous opening being left, or obliteration of the duel taking 

 place, after these operations. One solitary case occurred to the 

 author of this treatise, of an animal with her second calf (having 

 been milked with the previous one), in v^hom, although there was 

 an ample secretion of milk, yet all the teats were impervious : a 

 probe could readily be introduced an inch up to their base, but no 

 farther. The abstraction of milk being thus impossible, it was 

 deemed advisable to bleed and physic her; the secretion of milk 

 was thus checked, and she was fattened for slaughter. 



The diseases consequent at times upon difficult or abnormal 

 parturition next claim attention. And first, then, of Hysteritis, 

 or inflammation of the womb. When the calf has been forcibly 

 extracted, or much manipulation has been used to facilitate de- 

 livery, or after the production of twins, especially if they be 

 dead, the placental membranes having been thrown off, the animal 

 is sometimes attacked with straining, this occurring most fre- 

 quently to the cow in high condition ; violent expulsive efforts 

 are made, small quantities of bloody mucus passing from the 

 vagina ; the contents of the bladder are frequently evacuated ; 

 she continues in a recumbent position, ever and anon kicking at 

 her belly ; mortification of the uterus, and the death of the 

 animal, will too often be the termination of these cases. If the 

 pulse be full and strong, and she have not been excessively ex- 

 hausted during parturition, four or five quarts of blood should 

 be abstracted from the jugular : a pound of salts, or a pint 

 and a half of linseed oil, with from two to four ounces of the 

 tincture of opium, should be administered ; this last may be 

 repeated in half-doses every four hours if the pains continue. 

 Thin oatmeal gruel should be occasionally horned down, but no 

 solid food must be allowed. Her hind parts should be elevated 



