212 The Diseases of Animals 
part soft. As there is a tendency for the opening 
to close and heal over, a small, smooth, hard-wood 
plug should be inserted in the end of the milk-duet 
after each milking. The plug should be well greased 
with vaseline or fresh lard. 
In cases in which mammitis is due to invasion of the 
gland by bacteria, a solution of carbolic acid, one 
part to fifty parts of boiled water, should be injected 
into the udder through the milk-duct with the appa- 
ratus used for the treatment of milk fever. After the 
solution has acted for a few minutes, it should be 
milked out. The external treatment for such a case 
is the same as directed for an ordinary case. 
Milking tubes are valuable instruments when used 
with care and good judgment, but their indiscriminate 
use is often the source of much harm. Before using 
them, both the tubes and the teats should be care- 
fully disinfected. 
MILK FEVER 
The term “milk fever” is not the correct name to 
apply to this disease, as there is rarely any fever 
associated with it; in fact, the temperature is usually 
below normal. “Parturient apoplexy” is a much more 
appropriate term; but the name commonly used to 
designate this disease will be used here. 
Milk fever attacks dairy cows soon after calving, 
usually within a few days after, but always within 
ten days. The best and heaviest milkers are most 
subject to the disease. In most cases the cow is down, 
