Bupplemeni to the " Tropkal Agriculturist." [March 2, i90S. 
Though put down .i.s a common weed by Trimen, t 
it is not very frequently met with, and is some- 
times searched for in the neighbourhood of 
Colombo for its medicinal propertie?, being highly 
esteemed as a remedy for fiitulency. It is gener- 
ally grown by Tamils near their dwelling;. A 
strange method of employing it as a remedy for 
hydrocele i.3 said to be by tying a poultice made of 
the leaves rou.;d the upper arm ! The leaves are 
also cooked and eaten. 
It ia not often one hears of flowers being used 
for food. The. most common instance is that of 
Sesbania (Aga'.i) gvandiflora, known in Sinlialese 
as Katuru-murunt;:!, the flowers of which fried m 
butter with seasoned batter is a tasty vegetable 
dish. Another flower or rather flower bud, used 
as food in the villages is Careija Arbovea (Kahata) 
also known as the " Fatana oak" which yields 
fibre and tanning bark. I have seen the buds beings 
collected for food along the canal road to Chilaw 
near Walahapitiya. 
^ 
DISEASES INCIDENTAL TO PREGHAKCY 
AND PAKTURITION. 
(a. ffi. CPvKieNTON, M.R.C.V.S.) 
Concluded. 
METBITIS AND MBTRO-PBEITONITIS. 
Definition. — Inflammation ot uterus, inflamma- 
tion of uterus and peritoneum. I shall consider 
these diseases under two heads— (1.) Simple 
metritis is the simple inflammation of the organ ; 
(2.) Septic metritis inflammatory action due to 
the pre-^ence of a bacillus in the uterus and ia 
the discharges therefrom. 
GffMses.— Unskilful and rough usage at calving, 
injuries, colds, draughts, retention of placental 
membranes, external violence, septic infection. 
Symptoim. — Usually ushered in with rigors, 
pain on pressure over region of womb. Tumefaction 
of the vulva, with heat and dryness ; then follows 
a discharge of purulent offensive matter from the 
vulva, increase of temperature, quick small pulse, 
increased respiru,tions, grinding of the teeth, 
secretion of milk suspended, bowels constipated ; 
on passing fgeces animal evinces pain : on examina- 
tion per vaginam, os uteri will be found hot and 
sensitive ; sometimes discoloration is seen on 
examination per vaginam. 
Treatment. — Explore vagina if possible and 
ascertain it foJtal membranes are away ; there 
may be some shreds left which may be putrefying 
in the womb. If so, wash out with a reliable 
disinfectant and antiseptic, give a mild laxative 
•with anodynes, and apply hot water blankets 
round the abdomen, and see to the general comfort 
of the animal. If we fear the metritis is of a 
septic origin, try the administration of internal 
antiseptics and stimulants with nutritious diet, 
and thorough irrigation of the uterus and vagina 
every day at least with suitable antiseptic solution. 
Some recommend packing the wOmh, but I have 
never resorted to this in cattle practice. 
POLYPUi IN THE VAGINA, 
, These are frequent in the cow, attached to the 
mucous membrane a littlo distant from the orifice ; 
he shape is generally that of a pear, I removed 
one vveighina; 4j lb?, from the vagina of a cow 
lately 'oy ligature and excision, aiid u;ed a simple 
antiseptic drejsiiig for a few day? ; the cow did all 
right. 
PARTUHITION. 
Now, gentlemen, I jn^t wish to say a few words 
in regard to parturition in the cow. As a rulo 
the messenger that comes for us in these cases ia 
sweatirig and out of breath, and will ga^p out that 
Jlr.' So-and-so wants you to come to a cow that 
cant calve. After asking a few qua-'tions we 
pack up a few necessary instruments, ropes, and 
the usual paraphernalia, and proceed with all 
speed to the scene of action. When we arrive 
there, and begin to explore the case, we generally 
And that Mr. Handyman has been there before us, 
and has spoiled the case and left it, because he 
could not do it. There are just a few positiona 
that I wish to say a few words about, (I.) Breech 
presentation. (2.) One fore and one hind limb. 
(3.) Two fore limbs with head away back. 
(4.) Twist of neck of (vomb. 
In breech presentation, push back buttocks of 
calf right as far up and back as you can, then get 
hold of foot and turn sideways and upward:', and 
you will get it into passage quite easily. Do 
likewise with other foot and the calf generally 
comes away quite easily. 
If one fore and one hind you require'to be able 
to judge which way the foetus will come away 
easiest. Generally to push back the fore limb is 
safe practice, as by doing so you have no trouble 
to look for the head. Then get-up the other hind 
limb and the foetus comes away with little trouble. 
In the case with the two fore legs with the head 
back, the position is generally the result of long- 
continued straining of the cow without delivery, 
If the head cannot be searched by the hand try a 
blunt hook, and if unsuccessful then try and 
remove one fore limb, which is sometimes a very 
difiicult job. You should tlien be able to reach 
head and get foetus away. Then as regards twist 
or torsion of the v/omb, this generally involves 
the cow to be thrown and rotated from one side 
to the other until the twist is undone, and then 
delivery is usually easily enough accomplished. 
Some veterinary surgeons recommend jamming 
fcetus in passages and take it away that way. 
After-treatment is anodynes if necessary and 
fomentations if needful. 
PARTURIENT APOPLEXY. 
This disease used to be very fatal in the cow 
until Herr Schmidt, of Kolding, found out the 
pot. iod. treatment. There are a good many 
tlieories put forward as to the cause, such as clean 
milking immediately after calving; by ptomaines, 
the products of decomposition of food in the , 
stomachs and intestines (but I look upon this as 
the result, not the cause of the disease) ; by 
ansemia of the brain ; and by auto-intoxication, 
1 favour this view and believe milk fever is due 
to some toxic mateiial that gains entrance or is 
manufactured in the animal economy and thus 
gaining access to the blood-stream. It may ba , 
due to some bacillus, but for that I can't say. 
By some it ia supposed to arise from the liver not 
