CHAPTER XX 

 THE MORE COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 



In this chapter no attempt is made to discuss the 

 ailments of cattle in a sense that even approximates com- 

 pleteness. Only those are touched upon that are most 

 common in herds at the present time, and that are, in 

 consequence, most likely to give trouble to owners of 

 cattle. In the discussion the aim has been to dwell upon 

 the cause or causes which give rise to the various ail- 

 ments discussed, the symptoms that characterize them, 

 and the means that may be adopted to prevent them, 

 rather than to dwell at length on the treatment. This 

 course has been followed on the principle that an ounce 

 of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. 

 Nevertheless, treatment in some forms of disease is 

 greatly important, but in nearly all the ailments dis- 

 cussed it can only be properly given by a trained vet- 

 erinarian. On the other hand, the preventive measures 

 may, in nearly all instances, be applied by the owner of 

 the cattle. 



The ailments included in the discussion are the fol- 

 lowing: (i) Tuberculosis in cattle; (2) Abortion in 

 cows; (3) Milk fever in cows; (4) Actinomycosis or 

 lumpy jaw in cattle ; (5) Anthrax in cattle; (6) Blackleg 

 in cattle; (7) Hemorrhagic septicaemia in cattle ; (8) Corn 

 stalk disease in cattle; (9) Removing the afterbirth 

 from cows ; ( 10) Eversion of the womb in cows ; (11) 

 Hoven or bloat in cattle; and (12) Scours in calves. 



Tuberculosis in cattle. — Tuberculosis is a common 

 germ disease that affects all domestic animals kept on 

 the farm except, possibly, sheep. It is most extensively 

 present among cattle. In the human family it is com- 

 monly called consumption. The germ which produces 



