402 CATTLE. 



and of function has taken place, assumes a peculiar character, and 

 an intensity, obstinacy, and fatality, unknown at other times: the 

 second reason is, that from his inattention to the animal, or his 

 i£(norance of the real nature of the disease of cattle, he does not 

 recognize this malady until its first and manageable state, that of 

 fever, has passed, and the strength of the constitution has been un- 

 dermined, and helpless debility has followed. The first symptom 

 which he observes, or which the practitioner has generally the op- 

 portunity to observe, is the prostration of strength which violent 

 fever always leaves behind it. The early deviations from health are 

 unobserved by the farmer, and probably would not always attract 

 the attention of the surgeon. 



'i'his disease is primarily infiararaation of the womb, or of the 

 peritoneum, but it afterwards assumes an intensity of character truly 

 specific. The aflfection is originally that of some peculiar viscus, 

 but it soon is lost in a peculiar general inflammatory state, as rapid 

 in its progress as it is violent in its nature, and speedily followed 

 by a prostration of vital power that often bids defiance to every 

 stimulus. 



Cows in high condition are most subject to an attack of puerperal 

 fever. Their excess of condition or state of plethora disposes them 

 to affections of an inflammatory character at all times, and more 

 particularly when the constitution labors under the excitement ac- 

 companying parturition. The poorest and most miserable cattle have, 

 however, sometimes had milk fever after calving ; and they have 

 particularly done so when, on account of the approach of this period, 

 they have been moved from scanty to luxuriant pasture, or from low 

 keep to high stall feeding. Milk fever happens to cows that are very 

 fresh and fat, and particularly to those that calve far on the season 

 in hot weather ; but cows that are too fat often drop after calving in 

 the winter ; and it is observed that the cases that occur in the win- 

 ter will frequently recover, while the animals that are thus attacked 

 in hot weather too generally die. 



A cow is comparatively seldom attacked with milk fever a'", hei 

 first calving, because in the present system of breeding she has sel- 

 dom attained her full growth, and therefore the additional nutriment 

 goes to increase of size instead of becoming the foundation of dis- 

 ease. Cases, however, do occur, in which cows of three years old 

 have been speedily carried off by this complaint, but then they had 

 been most injudiciously exposed to the forcing system. 



Much depends on the quantity of milk which the cow is accus- 

 tomed to yield ; and great milkers, although they are not often in 

 high condition, are very subject to this affection. All cows have a 

 slight degree of fever at this time ; a very little addition to that 

 will materially interfere with the secretion of milk, and, perhaps, 

 arrest it altogether ; and the throwing back upon the system the 



