CATTLE. 403 



has something to do with it, although it is by no means suffi- 

 cient alone to cause it. Keeping the bull with the cows is, we 

 are satisfied, a frequent cause of abortion ; it should never be 

 allowed. Eating frosted grass must be very bad for the cows, 

 whether it aids in procuring abortion or not. When there is 

 frost on the grass, keep the cows in the yard until ihe sun 

 dissolves it. 



If one cow suffers abortion, the whole herd often follow from 

 sympathy. The smell and symptoms are known to them by 

 instinct, and hae an injurious effect upon them. They will 

 smell of the sick cow and her droppings, and then run bellow- 

 ing about, and soon follow her. Therefore, on the first symp- 

 toms, the diseased cow should be removed from sight, smell, or 

 sound of all others, and kept until all is over. And if the cow 

 drops her calf in the field, the foetus should be removed far 

 away and buried, and the cow removed from the herd. Any 

 putrid or offensive matter, fright, or sudden change of feed will 

 in some cows produce abortion. 



Puerperal or Milk Fever. All cows are subject to more 

 or less fever at calving, which in a day or two, or perhaps in 

 three or four days, increases ; the cow loses her appetite, 

 becomes dull, rolls the eyes, and looks wildly at her flanks ; she 

 loses the use of her hind legs, and if down cannot rise. If the 

 cows are watched, as they should be, the first symptoms will be 

 discovered. If so, give the dose of Epsom salts and molasses. 

 If the fever is high, and the hind legs are already stiff, add half 

 an ounce of red pepper, or ginger, or caraway, or quartei of an 

 ounce of each to the salts and molasses. If the disease has gone 

 so far that this dose does not give relief, give another, doubling 

 the quantity of ginger, pepper, etc. At the same time that the 

 first symptoms are discovered, the soapsuds injections, wet 

 cloths, etc., must be also attended to. These are of as much 



