16 
ON COWS NOT CLEANSING. 
rate from the uterus: the consequence is, that excessive strain- 
, ing comes on to get rid of it; and if it is not voided, the cows 
gradually sink in flesh, become very weak, or, what is commonly 
called,loin fallenand sometimes they die from irritative fever, 
exhaustion, &c. In some cows, from the continual straining, 
the bulk or vagina is protruded, dirtied, thickened, hardened, 
and otherwise injured : the parts around become highly inflamed ; 
and, sometimes, an immense slough of the whole of the internal 
surface of the vagina takes place ; the urinary passage also be¬ 
comes impervious, the sides being quite grown together, and, of 
course, retention of the urine takes place. In addition to all 
this, after the cleansing has remained a few days, the os tincae 
will be found so contracted, that the fore finger can scarcely be 
introduced into it, although at the same time a great portion of 
the cle 9 .nsing remains confined in the uterus. My plan is to 
remove the afterbirth immediately after delivery. Often, how¬ 
ever, it will be found, after premature labours, somewhat firmly 
attached to the burs of the uterus: in these and similar cases 
a little force may be used in separating it; or, if it is too firmly 
adherent, the surgeon may cut away all he can reach, and leave 
the remainder to slough off. If this plan is pursued, it will 
generally be found that excessive straining, which is sometimes 
seen, and which is brought on by the great bulk of the cleansing 
(part of it being in a putrid state), acting as an extraneous body, 
and which the constitution tries to rid itself of, may be in a great 
measure avoided. 
I have given the chloride of lime in these cases, and have also 
injected it into the vagina with apparent benefit; but, I think, 
that what is injected should be a weak solution, and not too 
often used, lest it should produce an astringent effect, and be 
injurious. If the cleansing has been removed as above men¬ 
tioned, nothing more will be -required than merely to give a little 
cordial medicine once or twice a-day, and nature will do the rest; 
but, as to the large stimulating, and what are called cleansing 
drinks, and which are given for several days together immediately 
after calving, I consider them, in the majority of cases, highly 
dangerous, so long as the cleansing is firmly adherent. 
I wish you, or some of your party, would write on the subject 
of preserving morbid and other preparations, as I am puzzled 
sometimes how to manasie with them ; or inform us of the best 
work on the subject. 
