86 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



found an application of warm lard, in cases of croup, very 

 successful. 



Dr. Martin. — I think the remedy suggested by the gentleman 

 from Nantucket is much like the use of wine and molasses for a 

 child when first born ; it is a kind of nostrum. Tiie fact is, it is 

 not best to apply medicine to well people or cows. The salts 

 will produce a copious evacuation from the bowels, and prevent 

 the How of milk to the bag ; a good remedy when the cow is 

 diseased; well cows do not need that. You should not make 

 the cows abnormal by feeding too high. Heifers are often fed 

 till they fill themselves so that they groan. When a cow 

 actually has an inflamed bag, salts would be good ; but I would 

 not give it in ordinary cases. With ordinary cows the bag will 

 not distend so as to do any harm. The system is more sensitive 

 at this period, and takes inflammation more readily. The cause 

 IS the pressure of the blood and milk; and you want to remove 

 the cause. I would rather give opium, for I should stop the 

 pain and stop the inflammation. But you may stop the pain 

 very much by bringing the bag up, for its weiglit increases the 

 pain. But I advise you not to doctor your well cows ; look out, 

 and not make them sick. When you find your cows well 

 developed, do not put them into good feed before calving the 

 first time. Reduce the feed, give warm applications, and keep 

 the bag suspended. 



Mr. Smith, of Middleficld. — I agree that prevention is what 

 we want. I never feed any cows high until after they have 

 come in and got all right. I am very careful about that, and I 

 never had any cows give milk befofe they calved. The trouble 

 comes from too high feed, I think. A cow should not be over- 

 fed for a few days before coming in. But I think an important 

 matter is to get the milk all out of the bag. In nine cases out 

 of ten I think the trouble comes from not doing that. Ordi- 

 narily, if you take pains, as soon as the cow calves, to get the 

 milk all out, and continue to get it out, in duo time there will 

 be but little trouble. Tlie best way is to milk the cow yourself, 

 and then let the calf work at it. The work of the calf is just 

 right. He will wet the bag all over, and work at it longer than 

 you can have patience to do. He will knock the plugs out for 

 you. I never lost a cow in that way, nor had any trouble. I 

 have had some trouble from garget, which I think is a distinct 



