566 Diseases occurring after Parturition in Cows and Sheep. 



be unimpaired. No dairy farmer would think of again breed- 

 ing from an animal that had lost a quarter, but she would be sold 

 or fattened for the butcher : even if the beast have recovered 

 apparently altogether, yet it will be better to get rid of her, for 

 the vessels of the quarter that has once been affected seldom 

 recover their tone, and there is liability to recurrence of the 

 affection ; yet, among high-bred stock, where milk is not the 

 object, but the breeding and rearing of calves, an animal of this 

 kind may be kept with safety, especially if she be valuable on 

 account of the superiority of her conformation, &c. 



The diseased affections of the teats may next be considered. 

 Sometimes, a few weeks after calving, cracks will appear trans- 

 versely across their surface, accompanied with discharge, and 

 peeling off of the neighbouring cuticle. The lead liniment, com- 

 posed of Goulard's extract one part and olive oil four parts, will 

 be a suitable application. There is another affection of the teats, 

 occurring at almost every period, in which the cuticle is elevated 

 in the form of vesicles : these burst, or are ruptured in the act of 

 milking, leaving the exposed cutis extremely sore. Any mild 

 emollient may be applied in these cases; perhaps as effectual an 

 one as any may be made by triturating together lard with cold 

 spring water until it assume a soft consistence. In each of these 

 affections the sore teats should be carefully cleansed with tepid 

 water and a sponge (taking care, however, not to disturb the 

 scabs) before milking ; the unguent being applied immediately 

 after milking. The teat should be handled as tenderly as possi- 

 ble during this necessary operation, the cow at the same time 

 being soothed by the voice and manner of the attendant. Some- 

 times small warts, with thin pedicles or stalks, are found growing 

 from the teat ; the most effectual way to get rid of these is to snip 

 them off with scissors, and apply a heated pointed iron lightly to 

 the part whence they are removed : this last operation will pre- 

 vent the formation of a fistulous opening into the milk duct, an 

 occurrence which will occasionally take place if the denuded sur- 

 face be not seared. Should the attachment of the wart to the teat 

 be more extended, a small quantity of paste, composed of white 

 arsenic and water, maybe applied to the surface; this will cause 

 them to slough out. The removal of warts should only be 

 attempted while the cow is dry. Occasionally, from the cause 

 above referred to, or from some other unrecognised, a fistulous 

 opening will be found to exist into the duct through the side of 

 the teat, and most commonly about its base. If it be near the 

 apex, it is a matter of little consequence ; but if otherwise, it is 

 annoying, as the milk flies in every direction but into the pail. 

 These openings are generally incurable ; for the application of 

 caustic to their interior, which would cause them to be oblite- 



