CATTLE. 165 



Fed Water. — This is a complaint which frequently attacks cows in 

 summer; and, on some pastures, it is a regular occurrence. If taken in 

 an early stage, a dose of eight ounces of Epsom salts, dissolved in a pint 

 of water, will almost invariably set the beast right. If not at hand, a 

 pound of common salt may be given, and the dose repeated, in case of 

 need. 



Quarter Felon. — Inflammatory fever, or quarter-ill, is one of the most 

 obstinate diseases with which cattle can be afflicted ; and, though odd 

 instances of a cure have been reported, they are extremely few, unless 

 the disease has been attacked in a very early stage. It is also highly con- 

 tagious, and will sometimes go through an entire herd of calves before 

 they are a year old, for it seldom occurs after that period. The calf 

 gets off its food, and becomes lame and stiff in one foot. The foot 

 may be examined, and no cause of lameness discovered, but soon the 

 disease has become general ; air bubbles are formed between the skin and 

 muscles, and there is a cracking sensation to the hand on passing it over 

 the skin, especially in the legs. Inflammatory fever is disorganizing the 

 body. 



Preventives, as the seton in the dewlap, bleeding, in autumn, doses 

 of dyer's madder, etc., are favorite remedies. The seton can do no harm, 

 — it may be tried ; but no specific, either remedy or prevention, has 

 yet been discovered. 



Foul in the Foot. — This is a tiresome, worrying disease, to which large 

 heavy milk cows are specially subject; and is to the cow what foot-rot 

 is to the sheep. There is inflammatory action between the claws ; it 

 begins to discharge fetid matter, and is a source of pain and irritation, 

 which often dries up the milk, and is often a painful and annoying com- 

 plaint to cure. Let the foot first be well cleaned and fomented with 

 warm water, and all loose flesh be cut or clipped off. The foot may 

 then be poulticed for one night with flaxseed-meal poultice, and then 

 again fomented and anointed with tar; and, if it should smell very 

 oftensively, a little charcoal, or a few drops of chloride of lime may be 

 added to the water. Next day the inflammation will be relieved and 

 brought out externally by the tar, and the foot may be then dressed with 

 the buttjr of antimony (chloride of antimony) night and morning, and 

 the tar applied afterward. The foot should be confined in a boot or 

 stocking, and kept free from dirt. A little salts or linseed-oil should be 

 given to keep the bowels in a state of gentle activity. 



Milk Fever. — This is a common complaint with cows which are deep 

 milkers, at least in summer. Prevention is all the farmer has to do with, 

 for the cure, if any, must be left in the hands of the veterinary surgeon. 

 He must, if he see the udder distended, milk the cow before calving 

 regularly three times a day ; she must be kept as cool and quiet as pos- 

 sible, and have mashes of bran only, for a few days after calving. This 

 is coolino; and somewhat laxative, and if the udder should be hard, which 

 it shoul 1 not be after this treatment, let it be rubbed with marsh mal- 

 low ointnent. A gentle dose of purgative medicine may be given if the 

 cow is in very high condition, and she should be driven a few miles every 

 day before calving. With these precautions there is little danger, at 

 least of its being fatal. 



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