44 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



can be made out. And in most instances we are not 

 deceived. 



A list of the variable quantities and varieties of 

 feeds which are thrown to the family cow would 

 be a very long one. We have known of family cows 

 that received regularly the meat scraps from the table 

 and apparently relished them; this, of course, in addi- 

 tion to the usual grain and hay ration. 



Only a few days ago we had under our care a fam- 

 ily cow that is now sixteen years old and has never 

 been given a drink of clear water; bran slops are as 

 near a drink of w^ater as she ever gets. Nearly every 

 v^eterinarian knows of equally odd instances. It if' 

 chiefly for this reason that we say the veterinarian, 

 in most cases, will not be greatly in error when he 

 attributes most of the obscure, irregular attacks of in- 

 disposition in the family cow to errors in feeding : first, 

 excessive feeding, and second, injudicious foods. 



Complete abstinence from all feed for from twelve 

 to twenty-four hours, with a moderate dose of saline 

 physic, or a few doses of intestinal antiseptics, are 

 usually sufficient to straighten the case out. 



In regard to the matter of complete abstinence from 

 all feed, the veterinarian must be firm and emphatic. 

 Many family cows are the idol of the family they 

 supply with milk, and often it is no easy task to carry 

 out the starvation treatment. 



