DISEASES OE CQWS. 448 



which disturbs the circulation and forces it excessively 

 in this direction, or which produces a diseased and irri- 

 tant condition of the blood. 



It is readily seen that each of these conditions may 

 call for a different treatment, and that it would not be 

 difficult for the owner of a cow to do mischief by adopt- 

 ing the advice of a neighbor or friend, who might have, 

 at one time, procured relief in a case having an entirely 

 dilfereut origin, by the use of some particular treatment 

 or remedial agent. In some cases it is very clear that 

 medicine might be required. For instance, when the 

 trouble is caused by some disease of the blood and 

 this is removed the secondary effects may disappear. In 

 some cases mechanical treatment only may be needed, as 

 when the vessels and ducts have become engorged and 

 the milk has clotted in them, and an alkaline injection 

 would dissolve the solid caseous matter and enable it to 

 be drawn away. In other cases both this treatment and 

 medicine would be needed, as when the blood is in an 

 acid condition during a feverish state of the system, and 

 alkaline salts may be given internally and injected into 

 the udder as well. 



Sometimes soothing outward applications may be re- 

 quisite, as w^hen muscular strains or accidental blows have 

 caused the trouble; and at other times when suppuration 

 is probable some absorbent agent, such as iodine, may be 

 applied, and an antiseptic medicine given internally. In 

 this case warm fomentations would be useful, and it may 

 even be advisable to apply hot poultices and to support 

 the udder by a broad bandage carried under it and over 

 the loins. When i£ is necessary to draw the milk from a 

 disordered udder, a silver milking tube may be used, 

 which is inserted in the teat and through it the milk 

 flows by its own gravity. This treatment overcomes 

 any obstinate interference by the cow with the flow of 

 milk, and brings it down in spite of her objections. 



