DISEASES OF CATTLE 207 



rendered sterile by heat, produced the characteristic bitter flavor. 

 Cultures of the torula were added to milk, and the cheese and butter 

 manufactured from it also possessed the bitter taste. In the inves- 

 tigations at one factory the torula was not found in milk drawn into 

 sterile dishes nor in the air of the stable, but was found regularly in 

 mixed milk, cheese, whey, can washings, and also on the leaves of 

 certain trees under which milk cans were habitually kept. 



In preventing such troubles as bitter milk, proper care of the 

 milk is essential. Milk cans and all other utensils should be thor- 

 oughly washed and sterilized by heat, the milking should be done 

 under the most favorable conditions for lessening contamination, the 

 milk should be cooled promptly, and guarded as carefully as pos- 

 sible from all known sources of infection. 



CHAPPED TEATS. 



These may be caused by anything which irritates them. The 

 powerful sucking of the calf, the sudden chilling of the teat in win- 

 ter after the calf has just let it go or after the completion of milking 

 with a wet hand ; contact with cold water, or stagnant putrid water, 

 or with filth or irritants when lying down ; slight congestions of the 

 skin in connection with overstocking, and, indeed, any source of local 

 irritation may cause chapping. This may be slight or extend into 

 great gaping sores and induce retention of milk or even mammitis. 

 Soothing applications of vaseline, or a combination of equal parts 

 of spermaceti and oil of sweet almonds may be applied. If healing 

 is tardy, add 10 grains balsam of Peru to the ounce of ointment. If 

 the irritation is very great, wash first with a solution of 1 dram 

 sugar of lead in 1 pint of water, and then apply benzoated oxide of 

 zinc ointment. 



WARTS ON THE TEATS. 



These are often very troublesome, yet they may be greatly bene- 

 fited or entirely removeu by smearing them thickly after each milk- 

 ing with pure olive oil. If they persist they may be cut off with a 

 sharp pair of scissors and the sore touched with a stick of lunar caus- 

 tic. They may now be oiled and the caustic repeated as demanded 

 to prevent their renewed growth. 



Scabby teats may be smeared with vaseline containing enough 

 carbolic acid to give it an odor. 



TEAT BLOCKED BY CONCRETION OP CASEIN. 



Under unhealthy conditions of the gland or milk ducts, clots of 

 casein form, and these, pressed clear of most of their liquid and 

 rolled into rounded masses, may block the passage. They can be 

 moved up and down by manipulation of the teat, and if they can not 

 be pressed out they may be extracted by using the spring teat dila- 

 tor, being held surrounded by its three limbs. Before extraction is 

 attempted an ounce of almond oil, previously boiled, should be in- 

 jected into the teat. 



TEAT BLOCKED BY CALCULUS. 



When the calcareous matter of the milk has been precipitated 

 in the form of a smooth, rounded stone, a rough conglomerated con- 

 cretion, or a fine, sand-like debris, it may cause obstruction and irri- 



