163 



transpires from one to four days after the first symp- 

 toms are noted. 



Treatment — All cows which are heavy milkers and in 

 good flesh, especially cows which have suffered an attack 

 of milk fever, should have the feed reduced, or, what is 

 better, be turned out to find a living on scant pastures. 

 Lean cows are seldom (if ever) att;.cked, therefore an ef- 

 fort shauld be made to reduce the cow's flesh as a pre- 

 ventative iiu'n.sure. Some regime of exercise on a 

 reduced food supply should begin not less than two 

 weeks, and longer, if possible, before the cow is due to 

 deliver. The practice of giving a purgative when the 

 cow begins to spring is of questionable utility, if rot 

 objectionable. It is not a good practice to give purga- 

 tives to heavily pregnant animals. Three courses of 

 medicinal treatment are admissible and attended with 

 varying degrees of success. 



1. Give a purgative while the cow is conscious, but 

 bv all means never administer drenches after the ani- 

 mal is unable to hold up the head. Medicines are then 

 liable to go down the wind pipe, causing pneumonia and 

 death. 



During the comatose stage the animal must be kept 

 braced in a normal position . This is one of the most 

 important features of treatment, and should be executed 

 even if it is necessary to watch over the animal day and 

 nioht. Bags filled with straw or cotton-seed hulls are 

 very convenient for bracing the animal on the breast. 

 If she lies stretched upon the side, bags should be used 

 to elevate the head as high as the highest part of the 

 body. 



For a good purgative use Epsom salts 1 pound, com- 

 mon table salt ^ pound, ground ginger 1 ounce, and aloes 

 ^ ounce. Mix in two quarts of water ; shake and drench. 



