444 THE DAtETMAN*S MANUAL. 



When the milk is too ropy and clotted to be drawn in 

 this way, an injection of one teaspoonful of carbonate of 

 soda (common baking soda) or saleratus, dissolved in a 

 pint or half a pint of warm water, may be injected into 

 the ndder through the teats. This will dissolve the 

 thickened milk and enable it to be drawn either by the 

 milking tube or by the hands or fingers. These methods 

 will be applicable whenever the udder requires to be re- 

 lieved of its contents, unduly retained from whatever 

 cause. 



When the cow is in a fevered condition, or the udder 

 is greatly inflamed, tender and hot, a cooling saline med- 

 icine will be useful ; this may be a pound of Ej^som or 

 Glauber salts, and if the fever is very considerable, one 

 ounce of saltpeter may be added. A saline diuretic, 

 such as saltpeter, will always relieve an inflamed udder, 

 as it increases the action of the kidneys and so reduces 

 the activity of the milk-secreting glands. 



"When the udder is in a suppurative condition, and the 

 matter drawn from the teats is mixed with pus, hyposul- 

 phite of soda will be beneficial; this is an effective anti- 

 septic and prevents danger from the absorption of pus 

 into the blood. This salt is given in one-ounce doses 

 daily and should be continued until all danger is re- 

 moved. A mixture of four ounces of glycerine, with 

 one dram of iodide of potassium, dissolved in as little 

 water as is necessary to make the solution, will be useful 

 to disperse a threatened abscess, or to soften the udder 

 when it is very hard from an obstinately congested con- 

 dition. The iodine is an active absorbent and has been 

 used in such cases with the best effect. A portion 

 of this mixture is well rubbed into the skin of the 

 udder after it has been fomented with hot water, and 

 wiped dry with a soft towel. The udder is gently 

 pressed and kneaded with the hands during the rub- 

 bing. Camphorated soap liniment, well rubbed into the 



