140 
THE COW HER DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT. NO. 12. 
THE COW— HER DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT.— 
No. 12. 
Milk Fever. — This is one of the most dangerous 
diseases to which the cow is heir to, and unless 
timely relieved, very soon proves fatal. It is 
caused hy whatever obstructs perspiration, and 
accumulates the blood internally ; hence, it may be 
produced by the application of cold air, by laying 
on the cold ground, or by giving cold water imme- 
diately after calving ; and these causes will natur- 
ally produce this effect, from the open state of the 
pores at this time, and from the . external parts be- 
ing so wide and relaxed after that operation. 
Cows in high condition are more subject to this 
complaint than others, especially if they have been 
kept up for some weeks before calving. 
The symptoms begin to show themselves the 
first, second, or third day after calving, but most 
frequently the first day, and that often as early as 
two hours after the delivery. They may be known 
hy the cow shifting about from place to place ; 
she frequently lifts up her legs and then sets them 
down again ; discovers a wild appearance in her 
eyes, and sometimes blares', as if wanting her calf. 
At this time, she is very ready, on a person going 
up to her, to give him a poke. As the disease pro- 
gresses, there ensues a quick motion in the flank, 
and if confined in a stall, she begins to stagger 
from side to side, with open mouth, from which 
issues a clear water, and her tongue, at this time, 
is thrust out a considerable length. After stagger- 
ing some little time, she falls down, but recovers 
herself again, and continues to do so until she is 
no longer able to get up, and seems entirely to lose 
the use of her limbs. She then throws herself on 
her side, with her head inclined to her fore ribs. 
The body, at this period, sometimes begins to 
swell ; and when the malady is still further ad- 
vanced, the extremities, and the roots of the horns 
and ears feel cold, the latter being covered with a 
clammy sweat. What passes through the animal 
is black and dry • she frequently strikes with her 
fore and hind legs ; her eyes appear dull and 
heavy; and her breath emits a faint and sickly 
smell. Her restlessness gradually increases ; she 
is covered with cold sweat ; her extremities are 
seized with a shivering; the pulse becomes irregu- 
lar, and death terminates the scene. 
If the cow be in very high condition, she should 
first be bled, to the quantity of two to three 
quarts, if she can bear it, and the following mix- 
ture given as soon after as possible, at one dose, in 
three quarts of gruel in which two ounces of soap 
have previously been dissolved : — 
Epsom salts. \}i lbs. ; althsa ointment, 3 oz. ; saltpetre, 
% oz. ; powdered fenugreek, 154 oz. ; powdered mustard seed, 
\y 2 oz. 
As soon as this medicine is given, the cow 
should be " raked," (the removal of the dung from 
the rectum,) and the following glyster administered 
in two quarts of water gruel : — 
Common soap, 1 oz. ; common salt, a handful : sweet oil. 
X Pint. 
The soap being first dissolved in the gruel, mix 
the whole together, and inject, with a common 
glyster pipe and bag, into the rectum. As soon 
as the drink and glyster are given, the animal, if 
she lies on her side, must be turned on her belly, 
and well bolstered up with straw, to prevent her 
from getting into her former situation ; for, by 
lying in that position, the swelling of the body 
will increase, nor will the medicine operate so soon 
as when resting on her belly ; neither in this pos- 
ture should she lie too long, but be turned over 
occasionally, to prevent her limbs getting cramped. 
This change of position will also assist in expel- 
ling the wind, as well as in promoting the opera- 
tion of the medicine. It will likewise be useful to 
rub the limbs and body two or three times a day. 
Whatever else is given the animal in this disease, 
should be administered with caution ; for she 
swallows with some difficulty, and is in danger of 
being choked ; in consequence of which, there 
should be a proper interval between each hornful 
of medicine. In six or eight hours after taking 
the above, the following dose may be repeated 
every six hours until a change for the better takes 
place, to be given in a quart of ale or strong beer, 
with a little allspice : — 
Gum myrrh, % oz. ; powdered valerian, %oz. ; assafcetida, 
3 drachms ; saffron, 3 drachms ; camphor, % drachm ; opium, 
%, drachm ; mustard seed, X oz. ; saltpetre, %oz. 
When the disease is turned, and the cow begins 
to eat and drink a little, which is always a sure 
sign of her recovery, and generally occurs within 
twenty-four hours after the attack, (if she survives 
at all,) and sometimes sooner, the following medi- 
cine may be given, at one dose, in a pint of mild 
ale, or in a strong decoction of camomile tea, to be 
repeated once or twice a-day, if necessary, till she 
recovers : — 
Camphor, % drachm ; saffron, 3 drachms ; saltpetre, 3 
drachms ; gentian, % oz. ; valerian, % oz. ; Jesuits' hark, 
% oz. 
After two or three doses have been administered, 
if the animal mends very fast in her appetite and 
strength, one every other day may be sufficient. 
Should great debility ensue after the fever has dis- 
appeared, which is sometimes the case ; an ounce 
of isinglass, boiled in skim milk, may be given 
once or twice a-day, which will also be found ex- 
tremely useful in assisting to strengthen the relax- 
ed system. 
If, however, after forty-eight hours, the cow 
should still be incapable of getting up, although 
her appetite may be good, and she appears lively, 
the following " charge" should be laid on her loins, 
as the weakness exists more in those parts than in 
any others ; for she can generally raise herself on 
her fore legs, while her hinder parts seem useless : — 
Take black and Burgundy pitch, >£ lb. each ; oxycroceum 
and Paracelsus plasters, 2 oz. each ; bole Armenian and dra- 
gon's blood, 1 oz. each. 
To be melted over a slow fire. This charge should 
be spread while hot, but not so hot as to scald, all 
over the loins and rump. Some saddler's stuffing 
or wool should be stuck on it, to keep it in its 
place. As soon as this is completed, the cow must 
be got up, and put into a sling, made of sacking 
and ropes, so that she can feel the floor with her 
legs, which are to be well rubbed two or three 
times a-day. In this situation, she must remain 
until she can stand of herself, and get up without 
