THE COW—HER DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT. 
83 
they depend upon flowing their rice lands either 
upon the rise of the rivers above their banks in 
periodical freshets, which is but for a short portion 
of the year, or from tanks and reservoirs, where wa¬ 
ter is kept in reserve to let down upon their fields as 
occasion may require, the ground is most carefully 
prepared. In Italy, they plow and harrow their 
lands, let a small portion of water upon them, and 
while the soil is in a semi-fluid state, the rice is 
sown broadcast over the fields and the water is not 
suffered to be drawn off until just before the rice is 
cut. Consequently all hoeing or weeding must be 
done by the" laborers wading in the water, very 
much to their inconvenience and great injury of 
their health. 
In China, during the growth of the rice, which 
is first sown in patches and then transplanted in 
drills, 10 or 12 inches apart, the fields are always 
kept flooded, when water can be obtained. The 
terraces near the base of the hills are supplied by 
the mountain streams, and the fields, which are just 
above the level of any adjoining river or canal, are 
flooded by the ancient water wheel that is in use 
all over the country. The rice lands are kept flood¬ 
ed in this way until the crops are nearly ripe, when 
the water is no longer of use. Once or twice, at 
least, in the course of the summer, it is deemed 
necessary to go over the ground and well stirring 
the soil amongst the roots, at the same time, remo¬ 
ving any weeds which may have sprung up. 
THE COW—HER DISEASES AND MANAGEMENT.— 
No. 10. 
Inflammation of the Bag or Udder .—This is a 
very common disease, also called “garget,” or the 
“ yellows,” the attack of which is generally sud¬ 
den. Milking cows are most subject to it, more 
particularly old ones; and if the complaint is not 
early checked, the loss of one or more of the quar¬ 
ters, (of the bag,) is generally the consequence. 
Therefore, proper medicines cannot be too soon 
administered to stop its progress ; for, if neglected 
in the first instance, and the inflammatory symp¬ 
toms should rapidly increase, it is liable to extend 
into the body of the animal and attack some of the 
vital parts, and death will be the result. 
The most predominant cause of this disorder is 
from catching cold or a bad habit of the body, but 
more frequently the former. It may also proceed 
from other accidents, such as kicks, blows, or a 
poke from another animal; and sometimes by lay¬ 
ing on the part affected herself, which is not un- 
frequently the case. 
The first symptoms of the complaint are a sud¬ 
den swelling in the milk bag or udder, in one or 
more of the quarters, attended with costiveness, 
fever, and loss of appetite ; and previous to the at¬ 
tack, it is not unfrequently preceded by a cold shiv¬ 
ering, or shaking of the extremities ; and when the 
teats are drawn, the milk is dreggy or becomes 
coagulated. As the disease advances, the watery 
part of the milk is bloody, and, as the swelling 
augments, the bag becomes more red and inflamed, 
which gives the cow great pain when touched ; her 
hair stands on end, and her hide soon adheres tight 
. to the ribs. When the loss of a quarter takes 
place, and the inflammatory symptoms abate, the 
milk soon forms into complete corruption, or par¬ 
takes of the character of pus. 
If the disease originates from cold or bad habit 
of the body, bleeding is absolutely necessary, and 
no time should be lost in performing the operation. 
The quantity of blood to be taken must depend en¬ 
tirely upon the age and strength of the animal and 
the urgency of the case. Two or three quarts may 
be taken, if the cow is in good condition and the 
inflammatory symptoms run high ; but if lean, or 
low in flesh, half the quantity will suffice. The 
best place to perform this operation is in the milk 
veins which are distinctly to be seen on each side 
of the belly, and communicate directly with the 
udders. Bleeding from these has a better effect in 
reducing the inflammation, than when drawn from 
any other vein, as it takes the load much sooner 
from the oppressed vessels, and consequently gives 
more room for circulation. When the operation of 
bleeding is finished, the following mixture may be 
given, at one dose, milk warm, in a pint of strong 
beer or ale :— 
Sulphur, from 9 to 12 oz.; grains of Paradise, (cardamoms,) 
or long pepper, % oz. ; cummin seeds, % oz. ; tumeric, % oz. ; 
water gruel, 3 pints ; molasses. 3 gills. 
This drink will generally begin to operate in about 
twelve hours from the time it is given, if it does 
not meet with any particular obstruction in its pas¬ 
sage ; otherwise, it may be twenty-four hours. If 
it should not then operate, from three gills to a pint 
of cold-drawn linseed oil may be administered with 
the same quantity of tepid water gruel in which a 
small handful of common salt has previously dis¬ 
solved. When this drink has done operating, the 
following medicine is to be given at one dose, in a 
quart of warm beer or ale, wherein a small handful 
of the leaves of wormwood or rue has been previ¬ 
ously chopped and boiled :— 
Flour of sulphur, 3 oz. ; saltpetre, (nitre,) 1% oz. ; mad¬ 
der, \% oz. ; grains of Paradise, % oz. ; valerian, % oz. ; 
cummin and coriander seeds, each,% oz. 
In the course of the treatment, each diseased 
quarter should be drawn out three or four times 
a-day, not forgetting, at the same time, to give fric¬ 
tion to the parts affected with the hand ; they 
should also be rubbed twice a-day with the follow- 
j ing liniment:— 
Lime water, 4 oz. ; linseed oil, 2 oz. ; spirits of turpentine,. 
2 oz. 
The linseed oil and spirits of turpentine are first 
to be mixed together, after which the lime water 
must be addded by degrees and well shaken, in 
order to make them unite. 
If the inflammation runs high, and there is danger 
of mortification, the following ointment may be 
rubbed on the parts affected twice a-day :— 
BLACK OINTMENT. 
Take hogs’ lard, 4 oz. ; oil of vitriol, (sulphuric acid.) 
oz. ; spirits of turpentine, 1 oz. Mix together for use. 
The parts may also be fomented once or twice a-day 
with the foliowing decoction which may be applied 
with woollen cloths or a large sponge 
Wormwood, a large handful ; camomile flowers, 4 oz. ; 
bayberries, (Laurus nobilis,) 2 oz.; juniper berries, 2 oz. 
To be boiled in six quarts of beer grounds, (emp¬ 
tyings,) or in water if these cannot be procured. 
It will also be advisable to give at one dose, in a 
