268 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



tion or in the later stages of jnegnancy, and the greater the yield of 

 milk the more rapid the progress of the disease. Heifers with their 

 first calves are frequently affected, as these animals require a consid- 

 erable quantity of mineral salts for their own growth and for the 

 nourishment of their offspring. 



SymptoTTis. — In marked cases there is a gradual emaciation and 

 symptoms of gastrointestinal catarrh, with depraved appetite, the 

 pnimal eating manure, decayed wood, dirt, leather, etc. Muscular 

 weakness is prominent, together with muscle tremors, which simulate 

 chills, but are not accompanied with any rise of temperature. The 

 animal has a stiff, laborious gait; there is pain and swelling of the 

 joints, and constant shifting of the weight from one leg to another. 

 The restricted movements of the joints are frequently accompanied 

 -with a crackling sound, which has caused the name of " creeps " to be 

 applied to the disease. The coat is dull and rough and the skin dry 

 and hidebound. The animal is subject to frequent sprains or fracture 

 of bones without apparent cause, as in lying down or turning around, 

 and when such fractures occur they are difficult to unite. The bones 

 principally involved are the upper bones of the legs, the haunch bone, 

 and the middle bones of the spinal column. The disease in this 

 country is confined to localized areas in the Southwest, laiown as the 

 " alkali districts," and in the old dairy sections of New^ York State. 

 The cause of this affection is the insufficiency of lime salts in the 

 food, also to feeding hay of low, damp pastures, kitchen slops, and 

 potatoes, or to overstocking lands. It occurs on old, worn-out soil 

 poor in lime salts, and has also been observed to follow a dry season. 



Treatment. — This should consist in a change of feed and the artifi- 

 cial feeding of lime salts, such as magnesium and sodium phosphate. 

 Feed rich in mineral salts may be given, such as beans, cowpeas, 

 oats, cottonseed meal, or wheat bran. Cottonseed meal is one of the 

 best feeds for this purpose, ])ut it should be fed carefully, as too large 

 quantities of it are injurious to cows. Phosphorus may also be given 

 in one-fourth gi'ain doses twice daily, together with a tablespoonful 

 of poAvdered bone meal or crude calcium phosphate at each meal. 

 Ordinary lime dissolved in drinking water (limewater) will also be 

 found efficacious in combating this disease, and can be provided at 

 slight expense. A change of pasture to a locality where the disease is 

 unknowm and a free supply of common salt and bone meal will be the 

 most convenient method of treating range cattle. 



SPRAINS. 



The most common accident occurring to bones and joints is a 

 sprain of the ligaments uniting the bones, or the tendons uniting the 

 muscles and bones. A sprain is the result of a sudden forcing of a 



