246 



584- Prevention of Milk Fever. — In this respect I would note four 

 points. First — If possible, do not turn the cow out to grass until it has 

 calved, and give plain food of not too watery a nature. Second — 

 Immediately the cow shows signs of calving, have it removed to a loose 

 box for that purpose, and leave it there with the calf for four or five 

 days, or until the beastings are all cleaned out ; this can be easily 

 ascertained by boiling the milk, when, if colostrum be present, the milk 

 will curdle. It is a good practice also to remove a little milk from the 

 udder occasionally by the hand. Third — Five or six days before the 

 cow is due to calve, give 2 lbs. castor oil, in treacle gruel, and repeat 

 the dose 24 hours prior to calving, or as near that time as possible. 

 This treatment I have found to be of the greatest benefit. Salts do 

 not answer in my district, neither before nor after calving. Fourth — 

 If the calf and mother cannot be left together for four or five days, 

 then only small quantities of milk should be withdrawn every four or 

 five hours. Never, on any account, take all the milk at once from the big 

 congested udder of a deep milker. 



585. Hysteria, although very rare, is sometimes met with both in 

 the mare and in the cow, but more frequently in the latter. It seizes 

 the animal very suddenly ; more particularly is this so when it is 

 coming into service for the first time. In the mare, at times, the head 

 is pulled upwards and backwards ; the eyes are very watchful ; the 

 nostrils are dilated, and on touching, or even approaching the patient, 

 it becomes very excited ; it may kick and struggle, or rear up, and fall 

 over backwards. In the heifer, the symptoms are somewhat similar 

 to those in the mare ; it is, however, more subject to convulsions, and 

 falls down suddenly, bellows loudly, champs and foams at the mouth, 

 and grinds the teeth. The eyes roll about, and there are strong 

 muscular tremblings, and contortions of the limbs and neck, as if the 

 patient were in a fit. 



586. Treatment for Hysteria. — Bleeding, to the extent of five or 

 six quarts, is very useful, followed up by dashing cold water over the 

 head ; and after the paroxysm has passed, ^ oz. each of chloral 

 hydrate and bromide of potassium, in a pint of cold milk, should be 



