XT'-. 
CATTLE, THEIR DISEASES. 
are affections of the brain, congestion of the spinal cord, apoplexy, blood- 
poisoning and death. 
Causes. — Injury to the womb in calving; the retention of the after-birth; 
exposure to chill and cold by sudden changes of temperature, poor manage- 
ment, etc., may cause milk fever. At times a contagious character seems to at- 
tach to the disease, and many cows of the same herd suffer. It is also regarded 
as quite certain, that a cow having once had the fever, will have it with her 
next calf. Over-feeding as the time of calving approaches is also prominent 
among the the supposed causes of the disease. 
Authorities differ somewhat as to whether “ milk fever ”‘is identical with 
inflammation of the womb. Some think it is not identical ; others, that it is the 
same disease in different stages, or different degrees of violence. 
Symjjtoms . — The suspension of the milk secretions is one Of the earliest in-" 
dications of this trouble. The cow hangs her head, neglects to feed, ceases to 
chew the cud, moves her hind feet restlessly, staggers if she attempts to walk, 
looks wild, falls and cannot rise, sways her head from side to side. In this 
stage of disease the head is intensely hot. Power to see and to swallow is lost 
early in the disease; paralysis of the hind-quarters sometimes occurs; if not 
relieved, the breathing becomes hard and rapict; the pulse becomes faint and 
quick ; and sometimes the animal dies in convulsions, or sinks away in stupor. 
Usually the bowels do not move, and the bladder ceases to act. The turn 
of the disease for the better usually comes in thirty or forty hours, when the 
animal becomes rational, is able to arise, and the secretions all begin to resume 
their functions. . 
Treatment . — When trouble of this character is anticipated, preliminary treat- 
ment is strongly recommended for about a week before calving. This may 
consist in a purgative of 
1 Lb. Epsom salts, 
i Lb. table salt, 
$ Oz. ground ginger, 
Mixed with suitable quantity of cold water, and sweetened with molasses. 
At this time the cow’s food should be of the lightest kind also, avoiding 
meal and grain. The cow should be carefully sheltered also. After calving, 
if fever be anticipated, give twenty-five drops of tincture of aconite in water, 
repeating the dose every six hours, till four doses have been given. This has 
a very direct effect upon the heart and circulation generally. 
’ If the disease has set in clearly, but exhaustion is not apparent, free-bleed- 
ing is recommended by good authorities. When the pulse is weak and 
thready, however, and when exhaustion is apparent, bleeding is not called for, 
but a stimulant is required. Whisky may meet this case, or 
1 Oz. carbonate of ammonia, 
J Pint of water. 
