176 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



Tincture of Matico, » 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre, j Equal parts. 



Dose. — Half an ounce of each in one pint of water. The animal to have the priyi- 

 lege of barnyanl or pasture exercise. 



Dropsy confined to the uterus is a formidable affection, be- 

 cause it requires the services of an experienced surgeon, who 

 will, probably, tap the dropsical membranes through the vagina ; 

 yet the operation is not always advisable, for it frequently re- 

 sults in premature parturition. 



PUERPERAL FEVER. 



During the past few years, very many valuable cows have 

 died of ^^milk fever** — puerperal fever — puerperal convul- 

 sions, etc. 



It is a remarkable fact, that this disease almost always at- 

 tacks cows in high condition ; hence, in view of prevention, 

 we should endeavor to guard against the accumulation of fat ; 

 and this can be done by withholding meal and substituting 

 shorts, and also by allowing considerable quantities of roots, 

 and grass, when they can be had. 



Puerperal fever is a disease of an inflammatory type. The 

 state of plethora, which is observed among fine cows owned by 

 wealthy individuals, who dispense provender liberally, because 

 they hate to see a "poor" cow, is more likely to occur in a 

 cow when pregnant, and stall-fed (from the fat of the crib), 

 than otherwise, because, under such management, she does not 

 get exercise enough to make away with the carbonaceous 

 material, and therefore it increases from day to day, and is 

 harvested into the cell reservoirs, proving in its bulk detri- 

 mental to full and free circulation, respiration, and intestinal 

 peristaltic action. 



The warm and impure atmosphere which the stall-fed animal 

 is compelled to respire, is decidedly operative in bringing about 

 that condition known as plethora; therefore, our object should 

 be to secure a current of cool and pure air throughout the 

 cow stable. Pure and cool air is a very potent physiological, 

 sedative, contra-stimulant, and as the fat animal is in a morbi^ 



