MEDICAL TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 471 



"■ vre various medicines for the different forms and stages of garget, 

 "which, if the above medicine fails, can be properly prescribed 

 "only by a skillful veterinary practitioner. 



" It is important that the udder should be frequently examined, 

 " as matter may be forming which should be immediately released. 

 " Various causes are assigned for this disease, such as exposure to 

 *' cold and wet, or the want of proper care and attention in partu- 

 "rition." 



[In addition to the foregoing, or, indeed, before any medicine is 

 used, it is strongly to be recommended that copious and frequent 

 spongings with cool water be thoroughly tried, as many cases of 

 apparently obdurate character have yielded completely to this 

 simple treatment.] 



" Puerperal or Milk. Fever. — Calving is often attended with 

 " feverish excitement. The change of powerful action from the 

 " womb to the udder causes much constitutional disturbance and 

 '' local inflammation. A cow is subject to nervousness in such 

 '' circumstances, which sometimes extends to the whole system, 

 '*• and causes puerperal fever. This complaint is called dropping 

 " after calving, because it succeeds that process. The prominent 

 *' symptom is a loss of power over the motion of the hind exlremi- 

 " ties, and inability to stand ; sometimes loss of sensibility in 

 "these parts, so that a deep puncture with a pin or other sharp 

 t' instrument is unfelt. 



" This disease is much to be dreaded by the farmer, on account 

 *' of the high state of excitement and the local inflammation. 

 *' Either from neglect or ignorance, the malady is not discovered 

 *' until the manageable symptoms have passed, and extreme 

 " debility has appeared. The animal is often first seen lying 

 *'down, unable to rise; prostration of the strength and violent 

 " fever are brought on by inflammation of the womb. But soon 

 *'a general inflammatory action succeeds, rapid and violent, with 

 *' complete prostration of all the vital forces, bidding defiance to 

 " the best-selected remedies. 



