503 
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this fact which has caused the introduction of microscopic examina- 
tion of the milk for the determination of the presence or absence of 
garget. However, with the technique at present employed in the 
numerical determination of leucocytes there is too narrow a margin 
between the leucocytes found in the milk of healthy and those in 
diseased cows to make this form of diagnosis satisfactory and practi- 
cable. This is particularly true of milk from healthy cows during 
the first week of lactation, although at this time the normal increase 
of leucocytes would be accompanied by colostrum corpuscles. While 
the several methods recommended by different investigators are not 
directly comparable, it is nevertheless evident that an entire lack of 
harmony exists at present among them which makes the reliability 
of one or more of the methods at least doubtful. The Doane-Buckley 
and Trommsdorff methods are probably the most preferable, but 
neither of these is perfect and should not be depended on per se for 
the determination of udder inflammations by the examination of 
market milk or even the mixed milk of a herd. a 
GASTRO-ENTERITIS. 
The milk of cows affected with gastro-enteritis is of an abnormal 
character, being watery, of bitter taste, and changes quickly to a 
“ sweet curdle.” This milk is liable to produce digestive disturbances 
in the consumer and should not be utilized. 
MILK SICKNESS. 
A rather peculiar disease called “milk sickness” is found in the 
central part of the United States, where it at times occurs as an epi- 
demic among cattle and man. In cattle the first indication of disease 
is dullness, followed by violent trembling and great weakness, which 
increases during the succeeding day until the animal becomes para- 
lyzed and dies. Through the ingestion of flesh, milk, or dairy prod- 
ucts of an affected animal the disease is transmitted to man or to 
another animal, and attacks produced in this way most frequently 
prove fatal. In man the disease develops with marked weariness, 
vomiting, retching, and insatiable thirst. Respirations become 
labored, peristalsis ceases, the temperature is subnormal, ' and the 
patient becomes apathetic. Paralysis gradually follows and death 
takes place quietly without rigor mortis. 
Many efforts have been made to elucidate the question regarding 
the nature and cause of this disease, but although many theories 
have been discussed none of them has so far been generally accepted. 
“For further discussion of this subject see Article No. 13, this Bulletin, by Dr. 
W. W. Miller. 
