234 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



perience in this practice it is best to call a veterinarian, es 

 pecially if other than ordinary medicines are to be given. 



Nails or Wire in the Stomach 



On farms where much baled hay or mill feed is used 

 many cows are killed as a result of sharp-pointed wires or 

 nails puncturing the wall of the stomach, piercing the heart, 

 or setting up infection. There is one compartment of the 

 stomach in which such material is collected and held. Most 

 of it usually does no harm, but occasionally a sharp-pointed 

 object reaches a vital organ with fatal results. 



Some farms have provided magnets over which all 

 ground feed is passed. Pliers are used for cutting the wire 

 on the baled hay instead of a hatchet or ax. Since the 

 pliers sever the wire at one cut there is less danger of short 

 pieces of wire being broken off and mixed with the hay. If 

 the hatchet always severed the wire at the first stroke it 

 would be as good an instrument as any for cutting the 

 wire, but usually more than one stroke is used. 



When a cow is suffering from a nail or wire coming in 

 contact with the heart, breathing becomes short and is ac- 

 companied usually by a gentle grunt at each respiration. 

 The appetite and general health are also affected, and in 

 severe cases the brisket may become swollen. The trouble 

 is usually first noticed by general depression and refusal 

 of feed. 



Operations to remove the foreign objects have been 

 successfully performed by skilled veterinarians. The usual 

 treatment consists in keeping the cow as quiet as possible 

 and avoiding the feeding of excessive quantities of rough- 

 age. Violent exercise or a greatly distended paunch may 

 push the wire into the heart and cause death. 



Warbles 



Warbles or grubs are the larval stage of the heel fly. 

 The larva is about one-half to 1 inch in length and is whit- 

 ish or brown in color. The grubs weaken cattle, causing 

 them to fall off in flesh and milk, and also lower the value 

 of the hide because of the holes they make in it. 



