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 shifts 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 vagina, 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 passage, and lubricating the
parts, thereby facilitating the birth.
Under these circumstances, it will be our duty to supply the latter
deficiency by carefully anointing the parts with olive oil; at the same
time, allow the animal a generous supply of slippery elm gruel: if she
refuses to partake of it, when offered in a bucket, it must be gently
poured down the throat from a bottle. At times, delivery is very slow; a
considerable time elapses before any part of the calf makes its
appearance. Here we have only to exercise patience; for if there is a
natural presentation, nature, being the best doctor under all
circumstances, will do the work in a more faithful manner unassisted
than when improperly assisted. "A meddlesome midwifery is bad."
Therefore the practice of attempting to hurry the process by driving the
animal about, or annoying her in any way, is very improper. In some
cases, however, when a wrong presentation is apparent, which seems to
render calving impracticable, we should, after smearing the hand with
lard, introduce it into the vagina, and endeavor to ascertain the
position of the calf, and change it when it is found unfavorable. When,
for example, the head presents without the fore legs, which are bent
under the breast, we may gently pass the hand along the neck, and,
having ascertained the position of the feet, we grasp them, and endeavor
to bring them forward, the cow at the same time being put into the most
favorable position, viz., the hind quarters being elevated. By this
means the calf can be gently pushed back, as the feet are advanced and
brought into the outlet. The calf being now in a natural position, we
wait patiently, and give nature an opportunity to perform her work.
Should the expulsive efforts cease, and the animal appear to be rapidly
sinking, no time must be lost; nature evidently calls for assistance,
but not in the manner usually resorted to, viz., that of placing a rope
around the head and feet of the calf, and employing the united strength
of several men to extract the foetus, without regard to position. Our
efforts must be directed to the mother; the calf is a secondary
consideration: the strength of the former, if it is failing, must be
supported; the expulsive power of the womb and abdominal muscles, now
feeble, must be aroused; and there are no means or processes that are
better calculated to fulfil these indications than that of administering
the following drink:--
Bethroot, 2 ounces.
Powdered cayenne, one third of a tea-spoon.
Motherwort, 1 ounce.
Infuse in a gallon of boiling water. When cool, strain, then add a gill
of honey, and give it in pint doses, as occasion may require.
Under this treatment, there is no difficulty in reestablishing uterine
action. If, however, the labor is still tedious, the calf may be grasped
with both hands, and as soon as a pain or expulsive effort is evident,
draw the calf from side to side. While making this lateral motion, draw
the calf forward. Expulsion generally follows.
If, on examination, it is clearly ascertained that the calf is lying in
an unnatural position,--for example, the calf may be in such a position
as to present its side across the outlet,--in such cases delivery is not
practicable unless the position is altered. Mr. White says, "I have seen
a heifer that it was found impossible to deliver. On examining her after
death, a very large calf was found lying quite across the mouth of the
uterus." In such cases, Mr. Lawson recommends that, "when every other
plan has failed for taming the calf, so as to put it in a favorable
position for delivery, the following has often succeeded: Let the cow be
thrown down in a proper position, and placed on her back; then, by means
of ropes and a pulley attached to a beam above, let the hind parts be
raised up, so as to be considerably higher than the fore parts; in this
position, the calf may be easily put back towards the bottom of the
uterus, so as to admit of being turned, or his head and fore legs
brought forward without difficulty."
We must ever bear in mind the important fact that the successful
termination of the labor depends on the strength and ability of the
parent; that if these fail, however successful we may be in bringing
about a right presentation, the birth is still tedious, and we may
finally have to take the foetus away piecemeal; by which process the
cow's life is put in jeopardy.
To avoid such an unfortunate occurrence, support the animal's strength
with camomile tea. The properties of camomile are antispasmodic,
carminative, and tonic--just what is wanted.
Mr. White informs us that "instances sometimes occur of the calf's head
appearing only, and so large that it is found impossible to put it back.
When this is found to be the case, the calf should be killed, and
carefully extracted, by cutting off the head and other parts that
prevent the extraction; thus the cow's life will be saved."
In cases of malformation of the head of the foetus, or when the
cranium is enormously distended by an accumulation of fluid within the
ventricles of the brain, after all other remedies, in the form of
fomentations, lubricating antispasmodic drinks, have failed, then
recourse must be had to embryotomy.