344 DAIRYING COWS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT 



becoming painful, usually after the animals have been 

 heated by running from flies and probably standing in 

 a draught under the shade of trees. If not promptly 

 treated two or more quarters may be involved and a hind 

 limb affected. At times the enlargement extends along the 

 belly and down the fore-legs. Death is sometimes the result, 

 and in acute cases when this is averted, the loss of at least 

 one-quarter of the udder, and from one-third to half the value 

 of the animal. 



The Remedial Treatment is to give a dose of salts, rub 

 and foment the udder, and draw the quarter every day 

 until pus disappears. Should the disease be too far advanced 

 for mild measures, or if daily attention cannot be paid, the 

 teat may be either cut off at the neck, or a good opening 

 made with the knife in the fleshy udder close to it. The 

 only subsequent difficulty would be from attacks of flies on 

 the wound, unless the weather becomes cold for a few days. 

 This form of the disease may be prevented by rubbing the 

 vessel, at least three times, at intervals of two or three weeks, 

 with a mixture consisting of Archangel-tar, two parts, and 

 butter or grease, one part. By beginning in June, the 

 inducing organisms are kept off, and moreover the tar acts as 

 a stimulant or mild blister, although the grease dilutes it 

 sufficiently to prevent blistering. 



Erysipelas of the udder is rather uncommon, and its 

 effects are localised for the most part to the skin of the bag 

 and of the internal part of the thigh. The milk is very little 

 altered, though it is diminished in quantity. The patient is 

 excessively lame, walking with difficulty and with legs wide 

 apart. 



Impaction of the Rumen or first stomach is not un- 

 common, when cattle are in poor condition, and the 

 functions of digestion consequently weak. It may be 

 caused by unsuitable food, as when cattle are fed solely on 

 cut straw and pulped roots ; when much use is made of 

 dry, concentrated, rich food such as cotton-cake or bruised 

 grains ; or it may occur when cattle are turned out to benty 

 land on the hills in spring before young grass has begun to 

 grow. The rumen may not be much enlarged, but on pressing 

 it has a soft and doughy feeling. 



Treatment. A strong purgative must be given except in 



