572 Diseases occurring after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 



the left, and generally, when the fundus has repassed the external 

 opening, the viscus suddenly assumes its natural position. The 

 right hand should be passed onwards into the returned womb, 

 fully to ascertain that it has regained its proper position, and 

 after the lapse of a few minutes it may be gradually and gently 

 withdrawn. If there be much straining during the time of 

 operating, thus preventing its facile accomplishment, one or two 

 ounces of landanum may be administered ; should the paunch 

 be distended with gas, half an ounce of chlorinated lime may 

 be given in a pint of water, and if this be ineffectual, the 

 paunch may be punctured. The after-treatment should comprise 

 the administration of a saline cathartic, with one or two ounces 

 of laudanum ; if the straining be violent, four quarts of blood 

 may be abstracted, and sedatives or restoratives employed ac- 

 cording to the presence of irritation or the appearance of gan- 

 grene. In all cases sutures of broad tape or white leather should 

 be inserted through the labia by means of a suitable needle, or 

 there have been various forms of truss harness recommended ; but 

 these last are open to several strong objections, the difficulty of 

 adjusting the pressure to the vulva, and also of keeping them 

 clean, being the most prominent. Some temporary measures, 

 however, having been taken to prevent the recurrence of the 

 accident, if after several days have elapsed the animal continue 

 straining, with occasional appearance of a red mass at the vulval 

 opening, and no constitutional disturbance, it will be advisable to 

 remove the sutures, and substitute an instrument constructed as 

 follows : — Take two pieces of iron wire, each bent at a right 



angle thus, . The transverse portions of the wires must 



be made sufficiently small to pass through a hole punched at the 

 extreme end of each of the lateral portions ; another hole must also 

 be made about their middle, through which another piece of wire 

 may pass transversely. Punctures being made in the labia, these 

 transverse wires are inserted through them and the opposite 

 holes in the lateral portions, the instrument being secured by 

 curling round their thin ends with a pair of pliers ; or an appa- 

 ratus somewhat neater, and introduced to notice by Mr^ Taylor, 

 veterinary surgeon, of Bury, in Suffolk, consists of a straight 

 piece of brass wire, having three transverse pieces projecting 

 from it, each terminating obtusely by being bent round so as to 

 form a small ring. Punctures being made as before, these cross 

 wires are passed through from side to side ; another piece of wire, 

 having a screw at its end, passes through the rings, and the in- 

 strument is fixed by the last ring having a thread cut in it, into 

 which the screw works. Either of these instruments may be 

 kept in for any length of time, only occasionally requiring 



