212 The Care of Animals 



part to fifty parts of boiled water, should be injected 

 into the udder through the milk -duct with the appa- 

 ratus used for the treatment of milk fever. After the 

 solution has acted for a few minutes, it should be 

 milked out. The external treatment for such a case 

 is the same as directed for an ordinary case. 



Milking tubes are valuable instruments when used 

 with care and good judgment, but their indiscriminate 

 use is often the source of much harm. Before using 

 them, both the tubes and the teats should be care- 

 fully disinfected. 



MILK FEVER 



The term "milk fever" is not the correct name to 

 apply to this disease, as there is rarely any fever 

 associated with it; in fact, the temperature is usually 

 below normal. "Parturient apoplexy" is a much more 

 appropriate term; but the name commonly used to 

 designate this disease will be used here. ' 



Milk fever attacks dairy cows soon after calving, 

 usually within a few days after, but always within 

 ten days. The best and heaviest milkers are most 

 subject to the disease. In most cases the cow is down, 

 or partially unconscious, with the disease when first 

 noticed. If the attack is gradual, the first symptom 

 is uneasiness, — the cow is dull, the appetite gone, and 

 the milk secretion lessened or stopped. If the cow 

 is forced to walk there is a peculiar paddling gait, 

 and a vacant stare from the eyes. These symptoms 

 increase until the cow, unable to stand, falls or lies 



