150 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



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ing time, agalactia seems to be unfavorably influenced by- 

 such predisposing causes as indigestion, loss of appetite, 

 mammitis, insufficient or unsuitable feed, plant poisoning, 

 severe insect stings on the udder, thirst, enforced driving, 

 fear or excitement, or the removal of the calf. Incidentally, 

 agalactia is a reliable symptom seen in rabies in the cow. 

 Treatment — The animal, if a heifer, should first be 

 examined for the possibility of atresia, or imperforation, of 

 the teats. Eliminating this possibility, the attention should 

 be directed toward determining, if possible, the contrib- 

 uting cause or causes, which should receive prompt atten- 

 tion. 



The animal should be surrounded with an environment 

 most conducive to her comfort and complete satisfaction. 

 She should be supplied with an abundance of fresh, clean, 

 drinking water, and have a generous allowance of a ration, 

 preferably in the form of a warm mash, calculated to 

 stimulate milk secretion. Milk secretion may be assisted by 

 the repeated administration of strychnin, one-half grain, 

 and pilocarpin, 1 grain, in water at five-hour intervals, until 

 six doses have been given. Massaging the udder with lard 

 or an ointment containing extract of belladonna leaves may 

 assist in bringing her to her milk. Efforts should be made 

 to milk her twice daily, at regular milking time, even 

 though the efforts are unrewarded. If the calf is brought 

 to her side shortly before milking time, this additional ap- 

 peal to her maternal instinct may have the desired effect. 

 Milk Fever, Puerperal Fever, or Parturient Apoplexy. 



Milk fever sometimes follows calving in fleshy or 

 heavy-milking dairy cows. It is characterized by its sud- 

 den appearance and its acute course. The animal becomes 

 paralyzed and passes into a semi-conscious or unconscious 

 condition, which may terminate in death. The cause of the 

 disease is unknown, but that it is predisposed by such 

 causes as a highly developed milk production, an excessive- 

 ly nourished condition, and lack of exercise, is beyond 

 question. 



The symptoms of milk fever are characteristic and 



