Bearhifj of Calves. 
149 
calfs bowels, or tardiness in expulsion of the meconium, the 
simple mode of insertinjj a piece of common soap, from two to 
three inches in leno;tli by half an inch in diameter, in the anus, 
and then rubbing the part briskly with the hand, in nine cases out 
of ten will cause a proper evacuation. I have so very often seen 
this j)lain and harmless treatment successfully applied, that I in- 
variably adopt it, and with the greatest confidence recommend it 
from its simplicity and efficacy. 
The colostrum, or beistyn, more commonly called " beastings," 
sometimes continues so long as to be of serious injury to the calf, 
but this is chiefly caused by feeding the cow too highly after 
calving. 
The milk given to the calf should not be suffered to become 
cold, and by the assistance of the herdsman's fingers (which the 
calf will eagerly suck) as much may be taken up as requii'ed. 
Some calves will learn to suck by the aid of the fingers in a day. 
The palm of the hand is placed over the nose, with the fore-arm 
against the face ; the middle finger is inserted in the mouth of 
the calf, while the other fingers retain the head in the proper 
position. With the other hand the vessel is held, which at first 
should be somewhat raised, and not allowed to rest on the ground 
— that being an unnatural position, and different from the one 
the calf would be in if allowed to suck its mother. In this we 
shall be only adopting in the calf-house the same amendment 
which has already made its way into the stable, where the hay- 
rack is no longer fixed in a manner rather suited to the giraffe 
than the grass-cropping horse. 
The milk should at first be given in small quantities, say three 
pints every four or five hours, till the calf gain strength, when it 
may be increased gradually to as many quarts. Of this increase 
tlie herdsman alone can be the judge — a practised eye at a glance 
sees anything wrong. There is no animal in which disease is more 
easily detected than the calf. In health he sleeps quietly or is 
full of play ; in sickness he is dull, and from the action of the 
flanks, distaste for food, sharp champing of the teeth, cough, or 
other symptoms, it is clear he is amiss. 
There is considerable danger to calves from taking up straws 
and swallowing them before their powers of digestion are able to 
master such food. I have seen valuable animals lost by this; 
and, on being examined after death, a mass of undigested straw 
has been found incai-cerated in the stomach. In order to guard 
against such occurrences, a muzzle should be kept on the calf 
until after it has been perceived to " chew the cud." The muzzle 
may be made of wire or leather, simply cup-shaped, with a band 
sewn at each side to buckle behind the ears. It is usual for the 
