228 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



1 quart of water), with an ounce each of glycerin and laudanum to 

 render it more soothing, will often answer every purpose. It is 

 usually desirable to open the bowels with 1-|- pounds Glauber's salt 

 and 1 ounce ginger in 4 quarts of warm water and to apply fomenta- 

 tions of warm water or even mustard poultices or turpentine to the 

 right flank. 



In the violent attacks with high temperature and much prostration, 

 besides the salts agents must be given to lower the temperature and 

 counteract septic poisoning. Salicylate of soda one-half ounce, or 

 quinia 2 drams, repeated every four hours, will help in both ways, or 

 ounce doses of hyposulphite of soda or dram doses of carbolic acid 

 may be given at equal intervals until six doses have been taken. 

 Tincture of aconite has often been used in ^O-drop doses every six 

 hours. If the temperature rises to 106° or 107° F., it must be met by 

 the direct application of cold or iced water to the surface. The 

 animal may be covered with wet sheets and cold water poured on 

 these at intervals until the temperature in the rectum is lowered to 

 102° F. In summer the cow may be allowed to dry spontaneously, 

 while in winter it should be rubbed dry and blanketed. Even in the 

 absence of high temperature much good may be obtained from the 

 soothing influence of a wet sheet covering the loins and flanks and 

 well covered at all points by a dry one. This may be followed next 

 day by a free application of mustard and oil of turpentine. When 

 the animal shows extreme prostration, alcohol (1 pint) or carbonate 

 of ammonia (1 ounce) may be given to tide over the danger, but 

 such cases usually perish. 



In this disease, even more than in difficult and protracted parturi- 

 tion or retained placenta, the attendants must carefully guard against 

 the infection of their hands and arms from the diseased parts. The 

 hand and arm before entering the passages should alwaj^s be well 

 smeared with lard impregnated with carbolic acid. 



milk fever (parturition fever, parturient apoplexy, or parturient 

 collapse). 



This disease is not only peculiar to the cow, but it may be said to 

 be virtually confined to the improved and plethoric cow. It further 

 occurs only at or near the time of calving. Indeed, these two factors, 

 calving and plethora, may be set apart as preeminently the causes of 

 this disease. It is the disease of cows that have been improved in 

 the direction of early maturity, power of rapid fattening, or a heavy 

 yield of milk, and hence it is characteristic of those having great 

 appetites and extraordinary power of digestion. The heavy milking 

 breeds are especially its victims, as in these the demand for the daily 

 yield of 50 to 100 pounds of milk means even more than a daily in- 



