FACTORS INFLUENCING BEEF PRODUCTION 267 



There is no known cure, but by vaccination animals may be 

 made immune from the disease. All anthrax carcasses 

 should be burned. Great care should be exercised by men 

 in working among animals having anthrax, for the disease is 

 readily communicated to humans through abrasions on the 

 skin. Occasionally persons handling hides from foreign 

 countries have contracted anthrax. 



Warbles are caused by a large fly, which lays its eggs on 

 the hair of cattle. The animal licks itshairandswallowsthe 

 eggs, which hatch in the gullet, where the young grul)s 

 work their way through, finally to locate in the tissue just 

 beneath the skin of the back. Here they develop, so that by 

 spring one notices little tumors in the skin, in the center of 

 which is a small hole. Through these holes the grub works 

 its way and drops to the ground where it develops into a fly. 

 The holes made by the grub greatly injure the hides for 

 commerical use, if there at time of slaughter. 



Milk-fever is a disease especially noticeable among cows 

 that are heavy milkers and occurs most commonly after the 

 third, fourth, and fifth calving. It usually occurs two or 

 three days after the calf is born. There is no absolute 

 knowledge as to the cause, although some think blood con- 

 gests in the udder, while others believe it due to poisons 

 developed in the milk. Cows sick with milk fever show the 



following symptoms, as described by Dr. F. B. Hadley.* 



"The symptoms of milk fever start with excitement and end in 

 complete loss of consciousness, the animal going through much the 

 same stages as when given a general anesthetic, such as ether or chloro- 

 form. The patient has a wild look in the eye, switches her tail, trembles, 

 weakens, staggers, lies or falls down, tries to rise but is unable to do so 

 on account of paralysis of the muscles. She then loses all sensation and 

 passes into a state of unconsciousness cr coma, with her head tucked 

 into the right flank. The breathing is deep and slow. Later the cow 

 stretches out flat on her side." 



Treatment for milk-fever is simple and effective, consist- 

 ing in pumping air into the udder. It may be best applied 

 l^y means of a milking tube on the end of rubber tubing, 

 using a bicycle pump for inflation. The milking tube before 



*Principle3 of Veterinary Science 1920 p. 34G. 



