COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 159 



Certain cows at times have it as a chronic condition, giving 

 stringy milk at intervals for months or years. Mild cases, 

 if not chronic, usually respond . readily to treatment. A 

 physic should be given at once and the grain ration reduced 

 to one-third the usual amount. An ounce of saltpeter per 

 day for two or three days is generally beneficial after the 

 purgative has begun to work. If the udder is very sensi- 

 tive , a milking tube should be used for a few days. 



( 'ccasionally severe cases of inflammation of the udder 

 develop. These usually come on suddenly and are most 

 likely to affect the heaviest milkers. One or more of the 

 quarters of the udder swell and become very hard, while 

 the whole gland is decidedly hot and tender and no milk 

 can be drawn. Usually a small amount of yellowish watery 

 fluid replaces the milk. If the inflammation cannot be re- 

 ducod within a short time, that part of the udder affected 

 will not secrete any milk during that lactation period and 

 will probably be permanently lost. In some cases a fibrous 

 mass develops in the udder following such an attack, in others 

 an ubscess may result. 



Treatment must be prompt and thorough. The cow suf- 

 fers greatly from the weight of the udder. This should be 

 remedied as much as possible by passing a sheet around 

 the body to support the udder. Hot water applied for an 

 hour or more by packing soft rags around the udder, followed 

 by rubbing and kneading is often found beneficial. After 

 this is done, the best treatment is probably an application of 

 antiphlogistine. This is warmed and applied in a layer about 

 one-fourth inch thick leaving the teats protruding so that 

 the milk may be drawn. In about twenty-four hours the 

 antiphlogistine loosens and may be removed. A second 

 application is sometimes advisable. If it is impossible to 



