574 Diseases occurring after Parturition in Coivs and Sheep. 



be thrown off ; but it is not advisable to introduce the hand 

 into the uterus, as it would not be possible to separate each 

 cotyledon from the other, and, if much force be used to the mem- 

 branes, inordinate straining, and even inversion of the uterus 

 would be liable to occur. Should there be much fetor about the 

 external genitals they may be bathed with a solution of the 

 chlorinated lime in the proportion of one ounce to a pint of 

 water. The ergot of rye has been extolled as being efficacious in 

 this affection, but as it is a drug of much power, and its employ- 

 ment certainly not to be generally recommended or adopted, it 

 will be sufficient to observe that its use should be confined to 

 particular cases, and under the immediate superintendence of a 

 competent medical attendant. One other affection may be 

 noticed, as coming to a certain extent within the limits of this 

 report. Occasionally labour-pains will occur at the ordinary 

 period of parturition, but no foetus is expelled : these may recur 

 again at periods varying from three weeks to as many months, 

 when the foetus will be expelled or removed in a more or less 

 putrid state, or perhaps piecemeal ; sometimes all the soft parts 

 will be absorbed and removed by the vessels of the uterus, the 

 bones only being expelled per vaginam ; lastly^ in a fev/ solitary 

 instances the parturient pains never again recur, and the animal 

 will even breed again, but it will be the best plan for the owner to 

 fatten or dispose of her. The removal of the foetus in these 

 cases does not form the subject of present consideration ; and as 

 the after-symptoms (when unfavourable) are as nearly as possible 

 similar to those in inflammation of the womb, so will the treat- 

 ment in no wise differ. 



The Diseases of the Ewe 



will form the second part of this Report. And first upon the 

 list comes hysteritis, or inflammation of the womb ; this disease 

 is generally consequent upon violence used in the extraction of 

 the foetal lamb, and to this form the observations will be first 

 confined. 



Almxost every shepherd considers himself an adept at lambing 

 his ewes, and when, from a false presentation, or twins, or an 

 unusually large sized foetus, causing protracted parturition, he 

 thinks himself called upon to interfere, he proceeds to extract 

 the lamb at once, without taking into consideration the amount 

 of violence used, and seldom the manner in which he accom- 

 plishes his object — that object being, at all hazards, to bring the 

 foetus away from the mother. In illustration of this it may be 

 noticed, that, while it is not infrequent for cows to be consigned 

 to the butcher because the parties in attendance are unable to 



