GARGET OR MAMMITIS IN Cows 5 



Either form of garget will respond favorably to prompt action in the 

 early stages. The treatment for garget may be divided into general 

 and local. 



General treatment: When a cow is noticed to be suffering from 

 inflammation of the udder the grain ration should be reduced to one- 

 third the normal quantity and a succulent, easily digested food given 

 her. A purgative consisting of one to one and one-half pounds of Epsom 

 salts should be given. One-half ounce of nitrate of potassium twice 

 a day in the drinking water is also recommended. Some favor giving 

 a tablespoonful of saltpeter twice a day for two or three days, then 

 once a day until the inflammation subsides. Others recommend half 

 an ounce each of powdered poke root and powdered saltpeter given 

 twice daily as a drench or in the feed, until the attack subsides. Bleed- 

 ing from the jugular vein may be resorted to in extreme cases accom- 

 panied by high fever. The cow should be kept dry, clean and com- 

 fortable. Cold drafts and wet floors or yards are bad. If allowed to 

 lie out nights on cold wet ground a rapid recovery need not be 

 expected. 



Local treatment: Temporary relief may be given by bathing 

 the udder with hot water for one-half hour at least three times a day. 

 First milk carefully and after drying massage thoroughly with the 

 palms of the hands using warm olive oil containing 3% gum camphor, 

 or other lubricant, to inhibit abrasion. Be careful not to apply strong 

 liniments to the inflamed udder. 



Poultices made of bran, linseed meal, oatmeal or other substances 

 which can be placed close to the udder and which will retain their 

 heat a considerable time, may be applied. An udder support for hold- 

 ing the hot poultices may be made by placing a bandage around the 

 body with holes cut in it for the teats. It 'is more convenient to treat 

 the udder with a lotion than by making use of poultices. For this 

 purpose an udder support is used and the space between the udder 

 and the bandage is packed with soft pieces of old muslin, cotton 

 batting or woolen rags. The udder should be kept moistened with a 

 solution of one-half ounce of acetate of lead in one quart of water, 

 until the inflammation and swelling disappears. 



Another good mixture for rubbing on the udder is one part of fluid 

 extract of poke root, one part of belladona leaves, and six parts of 

 warm melted lard. The affected quarter should be kneaded with this 

 preparation for at least ten minutes three times a day. 



Another formula is six ounces of alcohol, one ounce of ammonia 

 water, and nine ounces of distilled extract of witch hazel. These 

 should all be mixed together thoroughly and applied with gentle 

 friction and massage. The cow should be milked carefully three times 

 a day and oftener if possible. "Where this can be done by hand it is 

 better than using the teat syphon. 



In the advanced stages where there is a tendency to suppuration, 

 vesicants should be used to facilitate the formation and the removal of 

 the pus. The best for this is 33% mixture of tartar emetic ointment or 

 a 10% mixture of biniodide of mercury and lard. 



