470 HANDY-BOOK OF HUSBANDRY. 



water, comfortable quarters, good and varied food, will also almost 

 inevitably introduce troublesome and expensive diseases. 



The same may be said in this case as has just been said of the 

 treatment of horses, that is, that simple remedies sensibly applied, 

 the calling in of skillful medical assistants whenever medical assist- 

 ance is required, and the keeping of the animal under all circum- 

 stances in the healthiest possible condition, will generally effect the 

 desired cure, so that blistering and bleeding and purging need 

 almost never be resorted to, and should never be adopted without 

 sound advice. 



Flint gives the following directions for the treatment of several 

 of the more prevalent complaints : — 



" Garget is an inflammation of the internal substance of the 

 '* udder. One or more of the teats, or whole sections of the udder 

 " become enlarged and thickened, hot, tender, and painful. The 

 " milk coagulates and thickens in the bag and causes inflammation 

 " where it is deposited, which is accompanied by fever. It most 

 " commonly occurs in young cows after calving, especially when 

 '' in too high condition. The secretion of milk is very much 

 " lessened, and in very bad cases, stopped altogether. Sometimes 

 " the milk is thick, and mixed with blood. Often, also, in severe 

 " cases, the hind extremities, as the hip-joint, hock, or fetlock, are 

 " swollen and inflamed to such an extent that the animal cannot 

 " rise. The simplest remedy, in mild cases, is to put the calf to 

 " its mother several times a day. This will remove the flow of 

 " milk, and often dispel the congestion. 



" Sometimes the udder is so much swollen that the cow will not 

 " permit the calf to suck. If the fever increases, the appetite 

 " declines, and rumination ceases. In this stage of the complaint 

 "the advice of a scientific veterinary practitioner is required. A 

 " dose of purging medicine, and frequent washing of the udder in 

 " mild cases, are usually successful. The physic should consist 

 " of Epsom salts one pound, ginger half an ounce, nitrate of po- 

 " tassa half an ounce, dissolved in a quart of boiling water ; then 

 " add a gill of molasses, and give to the cow lukewarm. Diet mod- 

 '* erate : that is, on bran ; or, if in summer, green food. There 



