THE MOKE COMMON AILMENTS OF CATTLE 43I 



and possessed of more than ordinary powers of diges- 

 tion. 



From what has been stated, it will be apparent that 

 one chief predisposing cause of milk fever is a plethoric 

 condition of the system in cows of mature age, and that 

 are great producers of milk. According to Prof. James 

 Law, F.R.C.V.S., the red globules in such cows are 

 sometimes reduced to more than half their usual size, 

 thus attesting to great richness and density of the blood. 

 Some distinguished veterinarians, however, incline to 

 the view that heavy feeding and lack of wear are respon- 

 sible for many cases of milk fever, without material 

 change in the size of the blood corpuscles. The other 

 predisposing causes include: (i) Easy delivery; (2) 

 high temperatures in stables; (3) a costive condition of 

 the bowels; and (4) lack of exercise. In easy delivery 

 there is but little expenditure of energy and loss of 

 blood. Heat conduces to fever, and fever means les- 

 sened secretion. Costiveness leads to retention in the 

 system of certain matters that should pass off in the 

 bowels. Exercise aids in maintaining all the functions 

 of the body in a condition conducive to good health. 

 It is thought that the immediate precipitating cause is 

 the production subsequent to calving of certain poisonous 

 products in the udder, acting on nerve centers, a condi- 

 tion that may follow the distribution into other vessels 

 of the body of the large quantities of blood circulating 

 in the walls of the womb. This condition is intensified 

 by any shock given to the system, as exposure to cold 

 and dampness. 



The indications of the disease are, of course, in- 

 fluenced by the degree of the suddenness and intensity 

 of the attack. The disease assumes two forms, known 

 as the congestive or violent and the torpid, with gradua- 

 tions between these. Among the symptoms that indi- 

 cate the possible approach of the disease are uneasiness 

 accompanied by switching of the tail, a stupid or wild 



