328 Diseases of Cattle. 



cows should have two months, w^hile one month is enough 

 for vigorous ones. 



Usually by lessening the milk taken day by day, so as al- 

 ways to leave some in tlie udder, a cow will dry without 

 painful swelling of the gland. When this is too long de- 

 layed, the customary ''drying drench" is to boil half an 

 ounce of powdered alum in a pint of milk, and give it every 

 morning. Eubbing the udder with ointment of belladonna 

 Is also an efficient and safe means. 



2. To h'ing on or increase the milk. 



It occasionally happens that the secretion of milk, espe- 

 cially in heifers, is too slight in quantity for the calf, or is 

 backward in making its appearance at the proper time. 

 Nourishing and abundant food, with a change of diet, will 

 generally remedy this, along with gentle frictious of the ud- 

 der and teat, so as to excite the glands to greater activity. 



When the secretion is checked, a large poultice of the 

 leaves of the castor oil plant, chopped fine and applied every 

 morning, has considerable local celebrity. A prescription, 

 in such cases, recommended by Prof. Gamgee, is — 



No. 372. Black sulphuret of antimony, 2 oz. 



Powdered fennel seed, 

 Common salt, of each 4 oz. 



One quarter of this to be mixed with the food every day. 



3. To correct bloody and blue milh. 



Bloody milk comes from blows on the udder, certain 

 poisonous plants, from the sexual heat, and garget. 



When it appears, it is a safe rule to give the cow a dose 

 of salts, and to foment the udder in hot water with a little 

 vinegar added. The milking should be gentle and thorough, 

 and the diet altered so as to avoid any imknown irritating 

 substance she may have been eating. 



Blue or sticky milk is due to the presence of a low form 

 of vegetation in the secretion, easily seen under a microscope 



