Milk Ferpr and t^fhor (■aJrivi! TroiihJes. 995 



have found that milk fever is more prevalent in late spring and 

 smnmer than at other times of the year, hence will be seen the 

 necessity for giving- the drench a few days before calving, so tis to 

 rid the system of deleterious matter as well as cool the l)lood. 



The following will be found a serviceable drench for this 

 purpose : — 



h]psom salts ... ... ... 1 lb. 



Iodide of potassium ... ... 2 drachms 



Treacle ... . . ... ,4 ounces 



Water ... ... ... ... 1 quart 



Dissolve the iodide of potassium in a quart of boiling water, then 

 add the Epsom salts ; stir well to ensure their being dissolved, add 

 the treacle, and when the mixture has cooled to about 100 degrees 

 Falir. give as a drench to each animal. 



It might be well to add, the Arnold's milk fever syringe may 

 be procured from any wholesale druggist, as also from several firms 

 who make a specialty of importing and stocking veterinary instru- 

 ments. This, with a catheter and clyster pipe, should be in the hands 

 of every stock owner. A good substitute for a clyster pipe and one 

 with an easy How is made with a kerosene tin having a few feet of 

 rubber piping attached to the centre of the bottom of the tin. This 

 can be hung up over the animal at any desired place, and can be in 

 the hands of all, its cost being but little, and is easily re]jlaced at 

 any time. 



Metritis, Metro-peritonitis or Puerperal Peritonitis. 



I will now pass on to the consideration of this affection, which is 

 too often confounded with parturient apoplexy but is in no way 

 identical with it. 



Cause. 



As milk fever is too often brought about by too great care on the 

 part of the owner for his animal, so this disease is brought on by 

 hardship or accident sustained. The principal causes arc^ the fol- 

 lowing : — The retention of the after-birth or of the foetus, through 

 which the peritoneum becomes involved ; the uterus or vagina 

 becoming torn during parturition, more often when mechanical 

 assistance has been rendered ; inversion of the uterus ; exposure 

 to cold wet weather dui-ing the period of labour; overdriving, 

 especially of very fat cows or of weak young heifers. 



Symptoms. 



There is every appearance of the animal being in severe pain, 

 fever, and the pulse is peculiarly hard and (juick. The breathing as 

 the disease progresses becomes quickened, frequent, and often as if 

 from the throat only. The cow strains, the vulva emits a chocolate 

 colored fluid, and tlie lining membrane of the bearing is of a dark 

 purple color, the labiae (lips) being small and the vicinity is swollen. 



