vi DISEASES OF THE COW 105 



milk just after parturition is called colostrum. It is yellow, 

 somewhat viscid, with strong odour and acid reaction. Such 

 milk if drunk is liable to produce diarrhoea and digestive 

 disturbance. 



Malta Fever. Since cows are susceptible to infection with 

 the Micrococcus melitensis, and this organism has been found 

 in their milk, this disease is one which may be spread by 

 cow's milk, but Eyre, 1 in a comprehensive account of the 

 disease, does not mention this as an actual known source of 

 infection. 



GROUP II 



Of the second group, which comprises general disease of 

 the cow, with local lesions on the teat and udder, the two 

 commonest conditions are foot-and-mouth disease and cow- 

 pox. Bovine scarlet fever may also be included here, but is 

 more conveniently considered later with Group III. 



That foot-and-mouth disease in cows may be transmitted 

 to man through the milk is attested by a number of cases 

 and outbreaks of disease. One of the most interesting is 

 the outbreak recorded by Eobinson at Dover in 1884 (see 

 page 91). 



Whether cow-pox affects the milk and causes infection 

 in man is doubtful The milk of such cows is usually said to 

 be unfit for food, but there appears to be little or no evidence 

 as to its harmfulness, although the milkers' hands are apt to 

 be infected. 



GROUP III 



In this group the essential lesions are in connection with 

 the milk-producing organs. They take the form of inflamma- 

 tion of the udder (garget or mastitis) and the various con- 

 ditions described under the term " ulcerated teats." 



Mastitis in Cows. A well-recognised and not uncommon 

 condition in cows. Accurate records as to the extent of its 

 prevalence are not available, but the following table for London 

 cowsheds, from Sir Shirley Murphy's annual report for 1908, 

 gives a good idea of its prevalence : 



1 Article " Maltafieber," Kolle and Wassermann, 1907. 



