78 MILKFEVER. 



that the inflammation of the womb is superadded to the other dis- 

 ease. 



In the milder form of this complaint, it is, to a greater extent, a 

 local malady : the spinal cord at the region of the loins is affected ; 

 but the brain is comparatively exempt; and thus, though the hind 

 extremities are paralyzed to a great extent, yet ihe insensibility is by 

 no means g-eneral, and consciousness is retained. In both the severe 

 and mild form the dio-estive oro-ans are alt02"ether deranged, and in 

 fatal cases the third stomach is found loaded with hard indigestible 

 food, and the other viscera are often found inflamed. 



The cause of the disease has not been ascertained, but it appears 

 connected with a high state of condition, and is best prevented by 

 keeping the cow short of food some days previous to her calving. 



The treatment of this disease must be modified according to the 

 severity of the symptoms, and the fact of its being the milder or the 

 severer affection. It is important also to ascertain whether the secre- 

 tion of milk has ceased ; as it has been ascertained that when this is 

 the case the disease is fatal, and when not so the cow recovers. If 

 the pulse is strong, it will be proper to bleed to the extent, perhaps, 

 of four or five quarts. The principal expectation of relief, however, 

 must be placed on the exhibition of powerful purgatives. 



RECIPE (No. 30). 

 Take Epsom or Glauber's salts, twelve ounces; flour of sulphur, four ounces; 

 powdered ginger, four drachms ; spirit of nitrous ether, one ounce. To be dissolved 

 in warm water. 



One-half of this draught may be repeated twice a day until the 

 bowels are properly opened. In the severer affection it v/iil be proper 

 to add from ten to twenty drops of the croton oil to the first draught, 

 and even two drachms of carbonate of ammonia and ten grains of 

 cantharides have been conjoined with advantage. It is of importance 

 to administer the draught slowly and carefully ; and when the cow is 

 any way unconscious it will be better to give it by means of Read's 

 syringe, putting the tube half-way down the neck, so as to prevent 

 any of the med^icine getting inio the windpipe, where it has been 

 known to produce fatal inflammation. The action of the physic should 

 be assisted by frequent clysters, and the bladder should be emptied 

 from time to time by a catheter. A blistering liniment should be 

 rubbed on the course of the spine : in the milder disease it may be 

 limited chiefly to the loins, but in the severer affection it should ex- 

 tend from the head to the tail, and be often repeated. It is astonishing 

 what a vast quantity of purgative medicine may often be administered 

 in this disease without producing any effect, the stomachs being in 

 such a torpid state. 



In the milder disease, the treatment must be similar in its nature, 

 though not so powerful as that here recommended; the croton oil 

 may%e dispensed with, and the blistering application confined to 

 the loins. 



The cow should be made as comfortable as possible. A good bed 



