Parturition Fever ^ etc. 315 



in the same animal, came on a month before parturition, and a 

 prompt recovery followed the distension treatment. Parturition 

 was accomplished normally and safely more than a month later, 

 no nervous prostration appearing: In the past two years thou- 

 sands of cases have been treated by the distension method (with 

 ox5'gen or sterile air) with less than i per cent of losses. 



Technique. To prevent infection, the main danger, the most 

 careful antiseptic or aseptic precautions are demanded. 



The injectors found on the market are generally clumsy and 

 unwieldy but operate well in careful hands. In the absence of 

 this an excellent substitute can be made from a common Davidson 

 syringe. Having secured the elastic ball and delivery tube 

 furnished with valves to direct the current of air, the delivery 

 tube is cut across and the two ends connected with a small glass 

 tube loosely filled with sterilized cotton. In the free end of the 

 rubber delivery tube fit a silver milking tube for insertion into 

 the teat. Sterilize the entire apparatus by heating in a water 

 bath for five minutes, and enclose it in a sterilized towel and tin 

 box until taken out for immediate use. The patient is to be pre- 

 pared by thorough washing of udder and teats with soapsuds, 

 rinsing off with clean boiled water at a moderate temperature, 

 and finally applying to the teats a 5 per cent solution of creolin 

 or lysol and supporting the gland on a sterilized towel until in- 

 jected. All being ready the middle of the teat is held between 

 the finger and thumb of the left and the teat-tube held by its 

 attached end in the right hand is inserted in the teat, the elastic 

 bulb being manipulated by an assistant until the quarter is in- 

 flated like a bladder. The tube is now withdraw and the end of 

 the teat is tied with a broad tape to prevent the escape of the gas. 

 The tube is inserted in each of the teats in turn, with the same 

 precautions, and the other three quarters are blown up in the 

 same way. It is a good practice, in passing the tube from one 

 teat to another, to dip the tube in strong creoline, rinse it off in 

 boiled water and then it is in an aseptic condition. The cotton 

 used as a filter may have a small crystal of some volatile anti- 

 septic (salol, naphthol, thymol) inserted into it. This is not 

 strictly necessary, yet it is an excellent placebo and serves to en- 

 hance the impression of the importance of the other and more 

 indispensable antiseptic measures. The recumbent cow should 



