Part 20 (1/2)

Powdered mandrake, 1 tea-spoonful.

Castile soap, in shavings, quarter of an ounce.

Beef's gall, half a wine-gla.s.s.

Powdered capsic.u.m, third of a table-spoon.

Dissolve the soap in a small quant.i.ty of hot water, then mix the whole in three pints of thin gruel.

This makes a good aperient, and can be given with perfect safety in all cases of constipation arising from derangement of the liver. The liquid must be poured down the throat in a gradual manner, in order to insure its reaching the fourth stomach. Aid the medicine by injections, and rub the belly occasionally with straw.

Suppose the bowels to be torpid during an attack of inflammation of the brain; then it will be prudent to combine relaxants and anti-spasmodics, in the following form:--

Extract of b.u.t.ternut, half an ounce.

Powdered skunk cabbage, ”

Cream of tartar, ”

Powdered lobelia, 2 drachms.

First dissolve the b.u.t.ternut in two quarts of hot water; after which add the remaining ingredients, and give it for a dose. The operation of this prescription, like the preceding, must be aided by injection, friction, and warm drinks made of hyssop or pine boughs.

Suppose the bowels to be constipated, at the same time the animal is hide-bound, in poor condition, &c.; the aperient must then be combined with tonics, as follows:--

Extract of b.u.t.ternut, half an ounce.

Roch.e.l.le salt, 4 ounces.

Golden seal, 1 ounce.

Ginger, 1 tea-spoonful.

Hot water, 3 quarts.

Dissolve and administer at a dose. In order to relieve the cold, constricted, inactive state of the hide, recourse must be had to warmth, moisture, and friction. A simple aperient of linseed oil may be given in cases of stricture or intussusception of the bowels. The dose is one pint.

FALLING DOWN OF THE FUNDAMENT.

Return the prolapsed part as quickly as possible by gently kneading the parts within the r.e.c.t.u.m. In recent cases, the part should be washed with an infusion of bayberry bark. (See APPENDIX.) The bowel may be kept in position by applying a wad of cotton, kept wet with the astringent infusion, confined with a bandage. A weak solution of alum water may, however, be subst.i.tuted, provided the bayberry or white oak bark is not at hand.

Should the parts appear swollen and much inflamed, apply a large slippery elm poultice, on the surface of which sprinkle powdered white oak or bayberry bark. This will soon lessen the swelling, so that the r.e.c.t.u.m may be returned.

The diet must be very sparing, consisting of flour gruel; and if the bowels are in a relaxed state, add a small quant.i.ty of powdered bayberry.

CALVING.

At the end of nine months, the period of the cow's gestation is complete; but parturition does not always take place at that time; it is sometimes earlier, at others later. ”One hundred and sixteen cows had their time of calving registered: fourteen of them calved from the two hundred and forty-first day to the two hundred and sixty-sixth day,--that is, eight months and one day to eight months and twenty-six days; fifty-six from the two hundred and seventieth to the two hundred and eightieth day; eighteen from the two hundred and eightieth to the two hundred and ninetieth; twenty on the three hundredth day; five on the three hundred and eighth day; consequently there were sixty-seven days between the two extremities.”

Immediately before calving, the animal appears uneasy; the tail is elevated; she s.h.i.+fts from place to place, and is frequently lying down and getting up again. The labor pains then come on; and by the expulsive power of the womb, the foetus, with the membranes enveloping it, is pushed forward. At first, the membranes appear beyond the v.a.g.i.n.a, or ”shape,” often in the form of a bladder of water; the membranes burst, the water is discharged, and the head and fore feet of the calf protrude beyond the shape. We are now supposing a case of natural labor. The body next appears, and soon the delivery is complete. In a short time, a gradual contraction of the womb takes place, and the cleansings (afterbirth) are discharged. When the membranes are ruptured in the early stage of calving, and before the outlet be sufficiently expanded, the process is generally tedious and attended with danger; and this danger arises in part from the premature escape of the fluids contained within the membranes, which are intended, ultimately, to serve the double purpose of expanding or dilating the pa.s.sage, and lubricating the parts, thereby facilitating the birth.