594 
ON DISEASES OF THE TEATS OF COWS. 
Farmers too often over-feed their cows, particularly during the 
first few days after calving, in order to make them give more 
milk ; and they obtain by this means a result precisely the con¬ 
trary of that which they expect. A cow at the time of calving 
has always some fever during the first five or six days: too much 
food nourishes and augments this fever ; and the fever dries up 
the milk. The fodder ought to be good, and administered in 
such quantities that the cow shall never be satiated and dis¬ 
gusted with her food. What she requires is good and dry 
litter; and to be able to breathe air neither too hot nor con¬ 
taminated, but fresh and often renewed ; I do not, however, 
mean a cold and chilly temperature. She should also be well 
dressed every day with the currycomb and brush. Thin gruel 
should be given to her slightly salted and lukewarm, three or 
four times a-day. All edible roots are proper, especially when 
cooked, or reduced to a clear pulp, and mixed with the water in 
which they were boiled. If they are only cut up, and given in a 
raw state in so large a quantity as to purge the beast, they 
diminish the quantity angl injure the quality of the milk. 
After the eighth day, however, the animal may by degrees resume 
its ordinary food. 
The next source of mischief is common and field mice, rats, 
weasels, toads, &c. which bite the teats or breathe upon them, 
or wet them with their urine. The teats become hard and pain¬ 
ful ; the milk spoiled : and according to old stories, foolishly re¬ 
peated and as foolishly believed, there is witchcraft in the case. 
Disease will sometimes occur without our being able to dis¬ 
cover the cause. A current of cold air, or contusions arising 
from a fall, or from lying down, are most frequently the causes 
of inflammation of the teats. 
Whatever be the cause, the two following things must be 
attempted:—First, to relieve the pain; secondly, to check the 
inflammation. In order to effect these objects, the diseased teat 
should be fomented with an infusion of elder-flower, rather more 
than lukewarm, and five or six times a-day, and for a quarter of 
an hour each time. To make this infusion, the water is first 
boiled, and then taken off the fire, and the elder-flowers are 
added, about two handfuls to the gallon of water: it is then 
covered up, and left to infuse. It is of great importance that the 
teat should be carefully wiped every time with a soft piece of 
linen, in order that it may not be left wet and cold. 
It is also of consequence that all the milk should be drawn 
from the diseased teat every time it is bathed, and that with as 
little pulling of the teat as possible. 
When the milk is not altered before it arrives in the reservoirs 
