Diseases occurring after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 571 



kidneys; the viscus may then be left to slough away. Humanity 

 will dictate that she should, as speedily as possible, be made ready 

 for the butcher, as she will be deprived of the receptacle for the 

 urine, and it will be continually dribbling from the shape, exco- 

 riating her thighs and legs, and thus rendering her a somewhat 

 loathsome animal. 



Inversion of the uterus is much oftener present ; generally it 

 takes place almost immediately after the expulsion of the calf and 

 placenta, but several days will sometimes elapse. In the first in- 

 stance it is caused by the violent throes of parturition, or from 

 too great force employed in pulling the calf away, especially when 

 it is nearly born. In all cases of assistance afforded to facilitate 

 parturition, when the fore or hind parts of the fcstus (whichever 

 may be coming first) have passed the vulval opening, the force 

 employed should be relaxed, and only sufficient traction used 

 gradually to extricate the remaining portion. When the inver- 

 sion is of later occurrence, it arises from the womb not having 

 sufficiently contracted after delivery ; after pains coming on, the 

 viscus is expelled. Its appearance will at once announce the 

 nature of the accident; indeed, sometimes the placental mem- 

 branes will be still adherent, but, if not, the cotyledons before 

 described are apparent upon the surface of the protruded por- 

 tion. In the majority of cases it may be successfully returned, 

 and will be retained. If it be possible to keep the cow standing, 

 this will be more readily accomplished, as she will not strain 

 so much ; but if she will lie, an assistant should keep her head 

 as flat as the horns will permit upon the ground, she being 

 turned upon her right side ; another assistant should hold a 

 rope, one end of which must be fastened to the left and upper- 

 most hind leg, drawing it forward. This will secure the ope- 

 rator from danger, and allow him free room for his manipula- 

 tions ; the hinder parts should be somewhat elevated by means 

 of straw, &c. 



These preliminaries being adjusted, the placenta, if it remain 

 adherent, must be removed by tearing asunder the connecting 

 cotyledons. The uterus itself should then be lightly and care- 

 fully cleansed with some warm milk and water, and a clean cloth 

 spread to contain it. The operator, with his right hand, grasps 

 the upper part of the viscus a few inches from the vulval opening, 

 and forces it within. Then introducing the other hand within 

 the vagina, he retains the returned portion, while the right hand 

 is withdrawn to repeat the manoeuvre. Thus he proceeds, his 

 assistant gradually advancing the remainder of the inverted por- 

 tion until the greater part is returned. Finally, he places his 

 doubled right hand against the fundus of the organ, and as he 

 advances it resolutely and steadily onward he gradually withdraws 



