374 BUUKAU OF FaUMEUs' IXSTITUTK.S. 



pursued to combat its further iutroduetiou iuto the system, and 

 counteract the evil etTects i>roduced., the results attained were at 

 best most unsatisfactory and discouraging. 



Without attemi)ting to enter upon lengthy details regarding the 

 malady, we may state that the result of the new Schmidt treat- 

 ment coupled with close observation along experimental lines has 

 demonstrated beyond all doubt that in the udder is the original 

 seat of the disease. Decomposition of the secreting cells in that 

 organ when the milk secretion begins, immediately after calving. 

 A loucomaine (depressent poision), being formed from the choles- 

 terin bodies and rapidly absorbed into the circulation is the direct 

 cause of the disease. AVhy Prof. Von Kolding turned his atten- 

 tion to the udder we are not told, but since attention has been thus 

 directed, various interesting and liighly instructive experiments 

 have been tried and it has been clearly demonstrated that decom- 

 posing milk injected into the udder at any time^ produces within 

 from twelve to thirtj^-six hours conditions identical with those of 

 milk fever in the usual way, and post-mortem examinations point 

 out almost identical abnormalities with that of milk fever, es- 

 pecially when the duration of sickness has been brief, proving con- 

 clusively that milk fever can be induced. 



Ti^atment and Mode of Application. — As the symptoms of a well- 

 marked case of milk fever are already well known to experienced 

 dairymen, we deem it unnecessary to repeait them fully. When a 

 good milking cow in high flesh just before or soon after calving 

 becomes restless, paddles with her hind feet, lies down and rises 

 with difficulty^ the udder becomes soft and flabby, it is time to be- 

 come suspicious that all is not right and immediate action should 

 be taken. The herdsman, already provided with three sixty-grain 

 doses of potassium iodide, carbolic acid and udder syringe of 

 proper design, procures a liberal supply of freshly boiled water. 

 The udder and teats should first be well bathed with warm water 

 to which has been added a tablespoonful of carbolic acid to each 

 (]uart. All milk should be drawn from the udder and one drachm 

 (sixty grains) of potassium iodide should be dissolved in one quart 

 of hot water (freshly boiled), with one dram carbolic acid, and in- 



