The Portland daily press., 1876-07-18
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Milk Fever.

RCNCEs
The month of June is critical season for
cows then coming into milk, especially for
those advanced in years. 1t therefore be-
hooves those with such stock to be watchful
in the care and habits of such cows to ward
off the destructive malady. The old axiom
that an ounce of prevention is worth pound
of cure, is applicable in milk fever. Causes
that are fruitful in producing it are full feed,
exposure from excess of heat, sudden chill
from drinking too much cold water, drench-
ing shower, and lack of needed supply of
water to drink, which suppress important
changes in circulating fluids in the system
about the time they are turning to flow of
milk. 1t often happens after COWS are
turned to pasture that they calve far away
from water, and will not leave the calf till it
will follow. The cow then being diseased by
thirst, on reaching water drinks too much, or
if separated from the calf she may worry her.
self In the heat to overfatigue and cause de-
preston of the nervous system, all of which
may be avoided by judicious treatment.
To prepare the system of the cow for the
changes that must take place at parturition,
care is necessary. 1t may be done by taking
four quarts of blood from the neck, day or
two previous and administering half pound
of salts with one teaspoonful of saltpetre,
dissolved. This course will prevent morn
condition of the system and may be means
OF preventing an attack of the fever. By all
means keep the COW from excess of heat or
excitement, anddo ret overfeed either before
or after parturition. After being four or five
days in milk, her feed may be increased with
her full flow OF milk.
The most virulent type of the disease is
manifest in the attack by wild, glaring look,
high excited movements Of the head, irregu.
lar, giddY steps, with no apparent loss of
strength, until the cow falls in a convulsive
fit, which lasts but few moments. If the
arterial circulation is not impeded, she rises
and dashes about wildly till Frustrated by an
other attack. In this type of the disease I
have found by immediate post-mortem exam
ination from the first fit the blood in the large
arteries extending under the back to the I'D
der so clotted as to be drawn out of the arte-
ries like rope. In this state bleeding would
be followed by death. So would any other
prescription. 1t is in this type of the dis
ease in its advanced stage that bleeding is
found to be an untrustworthy remedy. No
time should be lost in applying the lancet az
the first symptoms described. Administer at
the same time an active purgative, followed
by anconite and mix iif treated homeopath-
ically) alternately once in two hours with a
hall gallon OF water with each dose. A dose
should be twenty times larger than for an
adult person, and so continue until the fever
abates.
Another type of the disease is marked by
lassitude, staggering gait, falling with ina
biity to rise, shrinkage of milk, cold extrem-
tiles, dull eyes, and inattention to move
ments around her. She incines to lie pros
trate on her side for want of strength to lie
in natural position, indicating a general
prostration of the nervous system with a
morbid circulation. Although this type of
the disease is not so Immediately dangerous
as 1xof ~r,, - Il.
tration of remedies, and constant care to
keep the patient lying in a natural position,
while the remedies given are working in the
system. A well COW will die from lying on
her side in eight and forty hours. So the fate
of the sick cow is often fixed by neglect in
care when she cannot care for herself
There are but few cows, after having been
to grass few weeks, that do not require
bleeding in an attack of milk fever in any
form. 1t has been my practice, attended
with good success, to first bleed, in nine
cases out Of ten, from four to eight quarts,
according to size and condition of COW; dis
solve one pound of EPSON salts and one-half
ounce of saltpetre in two quarts of thorough
wort tea OF good strength, and give it a dose;
in two hours after, give two ounces of lauda-
mum, with gallon of water, and repeat the
laudanum and water once in two hours until
eight ounces of laudanum are given; no other
medicine should be given to counterfeit those
given which are found sufficient to carry the
patient through severe attack. After the
first administration of bleeding and physic,
laudanum and water are relied upon to raise
the patient. which requires from twelve to
forty-eight hours. When she rises, exchange
the medicine for nourishing diet. In bleed
ing, the strength and condition of the pa
tient should be duly considered. If in low
condition, and the pulse is weak and waver-
ing do not bleed, but give pbysic and stimu-
late with laudanum as directed. If in high
condition, with quick, wiry pulse, lose no
time in drawing blood, being always watchtul
of the pulse, and stop the blood if irregular
beats are observed to increase by the flow of
blood. II the pulse grows softer from the
flow of blood, do no not be afraid to take
from eight to ten quarts from large, strong
cow. After bleeding largely do not neglect
to administer water freely, because it passes
through the system and carries the medicine
with it and induces flow Of milk. y Utica
Herald.