246 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



BLOODY MILK. 



Blood may escape with the milk when the udder has been injured 

 by blows, also when it is congested or inflamed, when the circulation 

 through it has been suddenly increased by richer and more abundant 

 food, or when the cow is under the excitement of heat. The milk 

 frothing up and assuming a pink tinge is often the first sign of red 

 water, and it may result from eating acrid or irritant plants, like the 

 Ranunculacese, resinous plants, etc. Deposits of tubercle or tumors 

 in the udder, or induration of the gland, may be efficient causes, the 

 irritation caused by milking contributing to draw the blood. Finally, 

 there may be a reddish tinge or sediment when madder or logwood 

 has been eaten. 



In milk which becomes red after it is drawn it may be due to the 

 presence in it of the Micrococcus prodigiosiis. This also grows on 

 l)read. and is the explanation of the supposed miracle of the "bleed- 

 ing host." 



The treatment will vary with the cause. In congested glands give 

 1 pound of Epsom salt, and daily thereafter one-half ounce salt- 

 peter, with a dram of chlorate of potash ; bathe the bag with hot or 

 cold water, and rub with camphorated lard. If the food is too rich 

 or abundant it must be reduced. If from acrid plants, these must be 

 removed from pasture or fodder. Induration of the udder may be 

 met by rubbing with a combination of iodin ointment 1 part, soft 

 soap two parts; or mercurial ointment and soap may be used. Care- 

 ful milking is imperative. 



BLUE MILK. 



Watery milk is blue, but the presence of a germ {Bacillus cya- 

 nogeyies) causes a distinct blue shade even in rich milk and cream. It 

 may reach the milk after it has been drawn, or it may find its way 

 into the opening of the milk ducts and enter the milk as it is drawn. 

 In the latter case frequent milking and the injection into the teats 

 of a solution of 2 drams of hyposulphite of soda in a pint of water 

 will serve to destroy them. 



STRINGY :MILK. 



This may be caused by fungi developing in the liquid, and that the 

 spores are present in the system of the cow may be safely inferred 

 from 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 10 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 



