262 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



the fact that in a large herd two or three cows only will yield such milk 

 at a time, and that after a run of ten days or a fortnight they will recover 

 and others will be attacked. I have found that such affected cows had 

 the temperature raised one or two degrees above the others. Like most 

 other fungi, this does not grow out into filaments within the body of 

 the cow, but in five or six hours after milking the surface layers are 

 found to be one dense network of filaments. If a needle is dipped in 

 this and lifted, the liquid is drawn out into a long thread. In one ease 

 which I investigated near Ithaca, N. Y., the contamination was mani- 

 festly due to a spring which oozed out of a bank of black muck soil and 

 stood in pools mixed with the dejections of the animals. Inoculation 

 of pure milk with the water as it flowed out of this bank developed in 

 it the fungus and the string characters. By fencing in this spring and 

 giving the affected cows each 2 drams bisulphite of soda daily the trouble 

 was arrested promptly and permanently. 



CHAPPED TEATS. 



These may be caused by anything which irritates them. The power- 

 ful sucking of the calf, the sudden chilling of the teat in winter after 

 the calf has just let it go, or after the completion of milking with a wet 

 hand ; contact with cold water, or stagnant putrid water, or with filth 

 or irritants when lying down; slight congestions of the skin in connec- 

 tion with overstocking, and, indeed, any source of local irritation may 

 cause chapping. This may be slight or extend into great gaping sores 

 and induce retention of milk or even rnammitis. Soothing applications 

 of vaseline, or a combination of equal parts of spermaceti and oil of 

 sweet almonds, may be applied. If healing is tardy add 10 grains bal- 

 sam of Peru to the ounce of ointment. If the irritation is very great, 

 wash first with a solution of 1 drani sugar of lead in 1 pint of water, 

 and then apply benzoated oxide of zinc ointment. 



WARTS ON THE TEATS. 



These are often very troublesome, yet they may be greatly benefited 

 or entirely removed by smearing them thickly after each milking with 

 pure olive oil. If they persist they may be cut off with a sharp pair of 

 scissors and the sore touched with a stick of lunar caustic. They may 

 now be oiled and the caustic repeated as demanded to prevent their 

 renewed growth. 



Scabby teats may be smeared with vaseline containing enough carbolic 

 acid to give it an odor. 



TEAT BLOCKED BY CONCRETION OF CASEIN. 



Under unhealthy conditions of the gland or milk ducts, clots of casein 

 form, and these, pressed clear of most of their liquid and rolled into 

 rounded masses, may block the passage. They can be moved up and 

 down by manipulation of the teat, and if they can not be pressed out they 



