FOOD EFFECT ON MILK SECRETION. 227 



a complete suppression of the milk secretion. Not only is the amount of 

 milk secreted affected by the nervous state of the animal, but its composition 

 is also changed even when, the quantity remains the same. Unkind treat- 

 ment of the cow, willful or otherwise, is found to show its effects in diminish- 

 ing the yields of milk. Ill ventilated, badly drained or too draughty cow 

 houses, careless exposure in bad weather, irregular feeding, brutal usage, 

 fast driving, the mad rushing about, provoked by the attacks of ox warble 

 fly and a variety of other causes, are bound to exert an influence upon 

 the nerves, the effect of which will be certainly recorded in the milk pail. 

 At the Vermont station a test was made of dairy cows at home and at 

 the fair ground, 1 to determine the effect of the nervous excitement on 

 the milk flow. The results indicate that the tendency of nervous excite- 

 ment is to lessen the quantity of milk and to variously affect the quality, 

 according to the individuality of the animal, the fat being the most vari- 

 able ingredient. In general, the activity of the animal and the nervous 

 excitement decreases the flow of milk, stall fed animals producing more 

 than grazing animals. 



THE EFFECT OF RAGE, FRIGHT AND SUDDEN SHOCKS all have a marked 

 effect upon the quantity and probably upon the quality. Flint reports 

 Vermois and Becquerel as mentioning a very striking case, in which a wet 

 nurse in a hospital lost her child from pneumonia and was deeply affected 

 and grieved. She immediately had a marked diminution in the quantity 

 of her milk and a diminution in the proportion of salts, sugar and butter. 

 There was an increase in the casein. The same writer quotes Sir Ashley 

 Cooper as mentioning two cases in which the secretion was instantly and 

 permanently arrested by terror. There are a large number of such reports 

 due to mental impressions. 



Similar observations have been made upon animals. On August 12, 

 1892, Lake City, Fla., the following case occurred: A fine cow owned by 

 Mrs. T. had a healthy calf four days old at her side. The cow was of a very 

 nervous temperament, and particularly averse to dogs. Upon the night 

 of that date the dog strayed into the stall next to the cow and calf. The 

 cow made frantic efforts to get at the dog, and was in a state of excitement 

 for six hours. The calf remained quiet and unharmed. Three hours after 

 the calf suckled, it died. 



Another case occurred August 10, 1891, at Bourbon, Ind. A valuable 

 mare was owned by Mr. C. She had a foal six weeks old. The day was 

 very hot and the mare was used at the harrow, and the colt left in the shade. 

 The mare fretted greatly and was worked a couple of hours longer than usual 

 to finish a piece of work. The foal was allowed to suckle as soon as work 

 was stopped. It died in about four hours. No cause could be assigned, 



1 Vermont Experiment Station. Report 1895. 



