THE OX AND THE DAIRY 141 



animal, which, properly fed on succulent diet, will yield a con- 

 siderable quantity of milk, and, when aged, sell for a good 

 price. Generally speaking, a cow may be milked to within a 

 month of her calving, which should occur in April or May. 

 She should then be suffered to become dry ; otherwise, when 

 she calves, her new milk will be deficient both in quantity and 

 quality. The calf should have the first milk, which nature 

 has intended to clear the intestines of a glutinous substance, 

 which is always present in the new-born animal. 



Besides plenty of succulent green food, the milch cow 

 requires good water, and that which has been for some time 

 exposed to the air is the best; cleanliness is also indispensable ; 

 a little rock salt to lick may be occasionally allowed, or a 

 little salt given, as conducive to health At the time of 

 calving, or rather after calving, a little warm water, with 

 some barley or bean-meal mixed with it, will be gladly 

 received ; but drenches and medicines should be avoided. 

 Indeed, when a cow is allowed to take proper exercise in the 

 open air, and has a snug shelter or house to resort to in case 

 of stormy weather, heavy rain, or cold, she will generally 

 keep in good health, and recover easily after calving. We 

 suppose the food to be given regularly, and in moderate 

 quantities at a time Occasionally, cows are apt to show 

 symptoms of jaundice, the result of some disturbance in the 

 function of the liver ; the eyes and even the skin assume a 

 yellowish tint, and the animal is languid, and ceases to feed 

 with an appetite An aperient draught composed of half-a- 

 pound of Glauber salts, an ounce of ginger, and two ounces 

 of treacle, with two quarts of boiling water poured over them, 

 may be given slowly and gently when milk-warm, and repeated 

 every other day. The cow should be kept from chilly winds, 

 and, if it be winter, have the loins covered with a cloth, and 

 be confined in her shed. This plan will generally prove, 

 successful in a short time We would, however, recommend*? 

 the cottager to get rid of a sickly cow as soon as possible ; 

 for should she have some chronic disease, her milk will not 

 only diminish in quantity, but be bad in quality ; and she 

 may die suddenly, and thus prove a great loss ; whereas, 

 though he may lose by selling her, he will find his first loss 

 the least in the end. A staring coat, a tight skin, loss of 

 appetite, difficulty of breathing, a husky cough, and general 

 leanness, are indications of disease in the lungs, or liver, or 

 both ; and the sooner she is parted with the better. 



