124 ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



The teat of the cow is quite large, and there is only one 

 opening through it. This opening is surrounded by a thin 

 layer of muscular tissue which contracts and prevents the milk 

 from escaping. This is a little stronger near the point of the 

 teat. If these muscles relax more than natural there will be a 

 leakage of milk from the teat. The necessary remedy is to get 

 a rubber band and put it on the teat, but not too tight, but tight 

 enough to stop the milk from leaking but not to stop the circula- 

 tion. This will rectify it. On the other hand, some cows, in 

 which these muscles surrounding the teat, do not relax enough, 

 are called hard milkers, and it is a difficult matter to remedy this. 

 The best method is to use a small milk tube first, and then a 

 large one. It must be kept in the teat for a time. It can be 

 fixed by putting a string through the eye of the tube and over 

 the loins. You will lose milk for a time, but it is the most 

 profitable method. 



The causes of inflamation of the udder are injuries, such as 

 kicks, blows, scratches, being horned by other cows, or by the 

 animal having to lie on a hard floor. It may also be caused by 

 the animal being too fat, or by being fed on too sloppy food. 

 Another cause is allowing the udder to become overdistended 

 with milk, either before or after calving. When the udder 

 becomes overdistended with milk inflamation ensues, causing the 

 glands to become hard and caked. The inflamation also causes 

 the milk in the udder to coagulate and separate into curds and 

 whey, and when the teats are drawn shreds of coagulated milk 

 come away mixed with the whey. Sometimes the coagulated 

 milk will fill up the oriface of the teat and allow nothing to pass 

 through it. This is a bad complication, often destroying a part 

 or the whole of the udder. To prevent this disease, see that the 

 cow's udder does not become overdistended with milk before 

 calving. Milk out enough milk to keep it soft and no more. 

 This will prevent it from becoming inflamed. There is a pre- 

 vailing idea that milking a cow before calving is an injury and 

 prevents or prolongs the period of calving. This is a mistake, as 



