116 THE COW IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 



a network of blood vessels through which 

 blood and lymph are carried and from which 

 the fluid portion of the milk is secreted. A 

 good milking cow has a most highly developed 

 udder which is more likely to become deranged 

 either through carelessness or from injury. 

 A cow of this kind will usually demand a great 

 deal of attention just before calving time, as 

 the udder may become swollen, red, tender 

 and hot to the touch, which indicates an in- 

 flammation. At this time milk will usually 

 be found in the udder and should be milked 

 out. The milking should be done as carefully 

 as possible and should be repeated three or 

 four times daily if necessary. The cow should 

 have not more than half feed for about 10 days 

 or two weeks before calving, and three or four 

 days before this time she should receive a dose 

 of some good laxative, also plenty of exercise 

 in the open air. 



Some cows have large, pendulous udders 

 which are often injured when the cows get up 

 or lie down, especially if the stall is too small. 

 Injuries are sometimes sustained while the 

 cows are in the pasture or when they step over 

 high door sills and the like. Occasionally the 

 udder is injured by coming in contact with a 

 cement floor when no bedding is used. These 

 v/ounds should receive attention, as they be- 

 come very serious if the injury becomes in- 

 fected. The treatment which we recommend 

 at the end of this article for simple mammitis 



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