664 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OP THE OX. 



scious, we may have some hope. After the turn, we may have 

 recourse to mild tonics, good nursing, and generous but soft 

 diet. 



Our readers will understand that milk fever is to be dis- 

 tinguished from ordinary fever occurring after parturition, and 

 called parturient fever ; also from septic peritonitis, adynamia, 

 and simple metritis. Puerperal mania may now and again occur 

 a few days after parturition, being probably due to exposure, 

 dyspepsia, and to removal of the calf from the cow. The animal 

 is very excitable, champs with the jaws, gnaws at objects which 

 may be near, and especially its own fore-legs. The careful 

 administration of opiates is to be recommended in these cases. 



MAMMITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE UDDER, OR 



GARGET. 

 This disease is one which it is frequently difficult to treat, and 

 it may supervene either shortly alter calving or some time after. 

 Moreover, the inflammation may either aflfect the whole udder or 

 one or two only of the four quarters. In its ordinary form, 

 garget consists in inflammation of a portion of the gland, 

 together with heat, swelling, redness and pain. There may also 

 be some febrile symptoms. If it is properly treated, the disease 

 subsides, leaving no traces. The malady may also occur in a 

 severe form, and the inflammation may go on to exudation or 

 suppuration and the formation of abscesses. Even a large 

 portion of the gland may become indurated, and suffer a per- 

 manent loss of secreting power. The malady may be brought 

 about by blows, scratches, or other injuries, or it may 

 apparently arise from the animal being unduly plethoric at the 

 time of calving. Heifers are more especially liable to this com- 

 plaint in a severe form, and hot summers are said to be an 

 exciting cause. The udder becomes hot and hard, and much 

 larger than is ordinarily the case. It is, moreover, red on the 

 surface, and very tender and painful to the touch, and pain is 

 occasioned if the animal moves. Frequently it may happen 

 that lameness of one hind-leg may be one of the earliest 

 symptoms of the disease, particularly if the inflammation has 

 commenced in the body of the gland, and not in the teat. The 

 pulse is quick and hard, the respirations are accelerated ; in 

 severe cases the chewing of the cud will be suspended, and the 



