DISEASES FOLLOWING PARTURITION. 247 



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 fila- 

 ments. If a needle is dipped in this and lifted the liquid is drawn 

 out into a long thread. In one case which I investigated near 

 Ithaca, N. Y., the contamination was manifestly 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. Inoculaticm 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 imtates 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 

 connection with overstocking; and, indeed, any source of local irrita- 

 tion may cause chapping. This may be slight or extend into great 

 gaping sores and induce retention of milk or even mammitis. Sooth- 

 ing applications of vaseline, or a combination of equal parts of sper- 

 maceti and oil of sweet almonds may be applied. If healing is tardy, 

 add 10 grains balsam of Peru to the ounce of ointment. If the irri- 

 tation is very great, wash first with a solution of 1 dram sugar of lead 

 in 1 pint of water, and then apply benzoated oxid of zinc ointment. 



WARTS ON THE TEATS. 



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

 cr entirely removed by smearing them thieklj^ 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 rej^eated as demanded to prevent 

 their renewed growth. 



Seahhy teats may be smeared with vaseline containing enough car- 

 bolic acid to give it an odor. 



TEAT BI.0CK;ED 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 dowm by manipulation of the teat, and if they can not be pressed 

 out they may be extracted by using the spring teat dilator (PI. XXIV, 



