76 TREATMENT OF THE COW, &C. 



taken immediately away, and the cleansing thrown on the dunof-heap. 

 We act contrary to nature in this. She would not have gTven to 

 herbivorous animals this propensity to eat the placenta, had not some 

 useful purpose been effected by it. Cleanliness was one object, the 

 next was either to support the strength of the animal, or to liave an 

 aperient or salutary influence on her. The mother and the young will 

 be happier if they are left to pursue the dictates of nature. Many a 

 cow has fretted herself into fatal fever from the sudden loss of her 

 little one, and many a calf has died from the neglect of that cleanli- 

 ness which the mother could best effect. 



A great deal has been said of the necessity of cleansing the cow 

 after calving, or the removal or expulsion of the placenta." There is 

 much error in this. The placenta comes away with the calf; and it 

 is that natural discharge from tlie womb, continued during several 

 days, and which is observed to a greater or less extent in all quadru- 

 peds, that gives the notion of anything being retained. Medicine, 

 nevertheless, is necessary in order to prevent that access of fever to 

 •which the cow in high condition is liable ; but that medicine should 

 be administered, not in the form of a stimulating cordial, from the 

 false supposition that the animal wants support after the fatigue and 

 pain it has undergone, but in that of a purgative, in order to prevent 

 an attack of fever to which the animal is so naturally exposed after 

 parturition, and which is so often hastened and aggravated by absurd 

 management. 



The mother requires little care after calving, except that of protec- 

 tion from too great severity of weather, and this more especially if 

 she had been much nursed before parturition. A warm mash may be 

 given daily for a little while ; but otherwise she may return to her 

 previous and not too luxuriant feed. The state of her udder, however, 

 should be examined : if it is at all hard, she should be milked twice 

 every day, and the calf should be put with her several times in the 

 day at least, if not altogether. Perhaps she will not let it suck, espe- 

 cially if it is the first calf, on account of the soreness of her teats, and 

 her being unaccustomed to' the duties of nursing. She must then be 

 carefully watched at sucking time, and the bag, if it is very hard and 

 kernelly, and sore, must be fomented with warm water, or, if neces- 

 sary, the garget ointment (No. 2i, p. 69, or No. 27, p. 70) must be 

 rubbed into the part principally affected. 



• CHAPTER XVII. 



THE INI ILK FEVER, OR THE DROP. 



This is a disease almost peculiar to cows in high condition at the 

 time of calving: whether young or old, all are liable to be attacked 

 by it : they are, however, rarely attacked until after they have had 



