152 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



boiling and the hollow-metal cylinder should be loosely 

 packed with sterile cotton. 



The catheter is then inserted into one of the teats of 

 the previously disinfected udder, and the rubber bulb is 

 operated by repeated compressions until the quarter is well 

 inflated. Massage of the quarter during inflation will as- 

 sist in filling the recesses of the gland with the sterile air. 

 The catheter is then withdrawn and the teat tied with broad 

 tape. After the inflation of all four of the quarters the vet- 

 erinarian will have opportunity to attend to any complica- 

 tions which may have arisen, or to administer hypodermic 

 doses of strychnin, caff ein, or other stimulants which may 

 be indicated. Medicinal treatment is usually superfluous, 

 however, in uncomplicated cases of milk fever. Following 

 the sterile-air treatment alone, it is no uncommon experi- 

 ence to find the cow on her feet from 30 to 60 minutes later, 

 eating hay as though there had never been the slightest 

 disturbance of her normal condition. 



Should the first treatment fail to give relief, the pro- 

 cedure should be repeated, as the air previously injected 

 may have escaped or become absorbed. Following recov- 

 ery, the tapes may be removed in about 5 hours. The air 

 should remain in the udder for 24 hours, after which time 

 it should be completely extracted by the manipulation used 

 in milking. It is then safe to permit the calf to suck. 



The milk-fever apparatus described above may now 

 be obtained from many sources, as, for instance, dairy sup- 

 ply houses and mail-order concerns. Every herd owner 

 should possess such an outfit as a matter of insurance. 



