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FOREWORD 



IT is the intention of tlie writer to direct 

 attention only to certain conditions in 

 cattle, which to a very large extent may 

 be obviated by proper care and attention 

 on the part of the owner. To give an out- 

 line of all the diseases which cattle are 

 affected with, would defeat the ol)ject in- 

 tended. Nor would the reader benefit for 

 the reason that even with the experienced, 

 trainetl veterinarian diagnosis is often diffi- 

 cult. To wait until the classical symptoms 

 appear would in many cases be too late. 



It is proposed, therefore, to confine the 

 subject to matter that the cattle owner 

 should be familiar with. 



Traumatic Pericarditis. An inflamma- 

 tion of the heart sac caused by an injury, 

 due in almost every case to a nail, wire or 

 some penetrating sharp substance which 

 has been swallowed by the cow. The man- 

 ifestations of this condition are observed or 

 suspected only by an expert veterinarian. 

 As a rule the disease is frequently mis- 

 taken for tuberculosis, due to the fact that 

 animals so affected exhibit a shortness of 

 breath, more or less fever, and are not apt 

 to keep in condition. Sudden death of the 

 animal may cause the owner from curios- 

 ity to make a post mortcnn, and it may be 

 with some surprise he finds the heart sac 

 quite large, containing a great deal of foul 

 sm(>lling fluid mixed with pus, and a closer 

 examination reveals a spike, i)iece of wire 

 or other sharp object penetrating through 

 the wall of the stomach and midriff into 

 the heart sac. 



The object of drawing the reader's atten- 

 tion to this accidental trouble is for the 

 purpose of impressing upon him the neces- 

 sity of keeping his barn yard clean of all 

 objects not intended for food purposes. 



Owners have no doubt observed in the 

 Sj^ring of the year a propensity for cattle to 

 chew foreign objects such as bones, cloth, 

 rope, and wood. Such foreign material when 

 swallowetl may caus(> the death of animals, 

 hence due care should be exercised. 



TYPICAL RKGISTERED ilOI.STl.lM lli:\n 



Phlebitis. Inflammation of the jugular 

 vein. This is occasionally seen in young 

 bulls and is caused by a hook while fighting 

 and may be recognized by a swelling extencl- 

 ing from perhaps half way down the neck to 

 the brisket in the region of the windpipe. 



A blow or hook may partially or complet(^- 

 ly rupture the wall of the blood vessel, per- 

 mitting the escape into the tissues of a very 

 large amount of blood. No attemjit shouhl 

 be nuule by the inexperienced to ojx'n any 

 swellings in the region of the throat or wiiul- 

 pil)e. Large blood vessels traverse this region 

 and there is grave danger of iniuriuo; them. 



REGISTERED HOLSTEIN HERD — I-(»X HIVEU \ ALLEV, ILL. 



