74 ABOMASUM IT IS IN THE REARING OF HAND-FED CALVES. 
the custom is to allow them to drink or suck the finger of the 
milkmaid placed in a small bucket ; but frequently the warming or 
heating of the milk is left to the maid, the cuticle of whose hand 
is not very sensible to the impression of heat : consequently the 
milk is given many degrees hotter than it ought to be, and thus 
the evil is produced. In all large farms or dairies a thermometer 
should be kept, so as to regulate the temperature before the milk is 
given to the animal ; or the mistress, whose hand is most sensible 
to the impression of caloric, should first test it. 
Symptoms . — From ten to twenty minutes after the milk is 
given, the calf or calves are found prostrate, convulsed, twitching 
in the muscles and limbs, strabismus, foaming at the mouth, ab- 
dominal pain, sudden rising up and falling down again. This 
passes off in about twenty minutes, but again recurs every time 
that the animal is fed with milk too hot. 
Other symptoms soon come on in addition, viz. tenesmus, with 
diarrhoea and bloody alvine discharges; and, lastly, dysentery closes 
the scene. 
I have seen as many as three or four calves down at once 
labouring under these symptoms, and have many times had 
great difficulty in persuading my employer from his belief that 
they were witched. 
Treatment . — Allow the animals again to suck the cow if possible, 
or mix with the milk an equal quantity of the infusion of linseed, 
both being a nutrient and demulcent. They sheathe the stomach 
and support the animal ; in fact, there is nothing more efficacious in 
restoring them, and numerous have been the cases I have observed 
cured by this treatment. After an animal has once had an attack 
of this kind through inattention, it is highly necessary that all 
fluids should be given cool, and not too much at a meal. 
The post-mortem appearances are a congestion of the stomach, ' 
with spots of ecchymosis. The stomach is also found contracted, 
and the internal coat rugose. The most singular symptom in some, 
is the very great contraction and furrowed appearance of that organ. 
The intestines also exhibit patches of rubescence. The appearances 
on inspection after death are quite sufficient to account for the 
symptoms produced sympathetically acting on the brain through 
the influence of the nerves of the part. 
