Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-04-24
Milk Fever, Etc,

This is the trying season of the year for
cows, when such sudden and violent
changes in system and habits take place,
and great danger often attends these
changes.
Most of the cows of Vermont drop their
calves in spring, when the food for the
winter, especially in the better class of
feeders, has been in q more concentrated
form, the blood has, from such feeding be-
come thickened, and of darker color. Dur
ing the months of carrying the calf, por
ton of the blood. increasing with the
growth of the calf, has entered into It's cir
culation and nourished its being. When
the calf is dropped, this avenue is closed
and the blood is thrown into and distribu-
ted among the other avenues of circulation,
already full, and great disturbance is often
the result, taking the form of milk fever"
Or parturient apoplexy; or Inflammation of
the organs, which have lately been sub
jected to such violent action.
Well, what 10 do in such cases? is the
question, and we feel like giving our opin,
ion in the matter, feeling as if we could
speak with authority, rs we have lately
lost our most promising heifer.
1t may occur to some that losing Il pa
tent is not the best of proof of Doctor
ability and knowledge of his subject, but
one can often learn more from defeat than
from unvarying success.
In the first place, we never had much
success in physicing an animal. We have
given one two quarts of thoroughwort or
boneset tea, as strong as we could make
it-one pound of epson salts, and Il pint
of linseed oil-and we might rs we'll have
poured them in knot hole us far rs any
physicing was concerned. Why, look at
it. Who ever saw cows stomach or
paunch which had less than bushel OF
food in it, and that with the amount in the
bowels must take great amount, Or very
powerful agent, to move.
In milk fever, the disease progresses
very rapidly, and in thirly-six hours your
cow will likely be dead, so some means
must be found for speedy relief, and that
we have found in bleeding.
In the case of the one we lost, we bled,
but there were two older and more expert
enced men present, and after bleeding
awhile they pronounced it enough; said
she was growing faint" and so scared
US off. and the more readily, as she seemed
relieved for a time. Later, when the dis
case had made further progress, we tried
to bleed again but could get no blood. So
she died, and we are firm in the belief that
if we had bled her to the amount of two
thirds or three-quarters Of n pail full, or
till she could hardly stand, we should have
saved her.
In bleeding, always have q pail to catch
the blood, so you can see how much you
have taken. A little blood makes great
show when it is spilled on the ground, and
so may mislead one as to the amount taken
away.
Later, we had another one sick. Her
calf was four weeks old. she was in full
flow of milk had eaten full rations during
the day, (Which embraced less than two
quarts of corn meal with her hay), but
the next morning there was little or no
manure behind her, she appeared to be in
much pain, and though there was no bloat-
ing we called it stoppage, to remove
which there must, of course, be an action
of the bowels. To accomplish this we gave
the salts, ETC., as aforesaid, with profuse
injections Of tepid water, but with little
effect, and the pain continuing. there were
indications of inflammation, which once
firmly seated, makes the chances for re-
covery few and small. BY this time we
were getting desperate, and feeling that it
was neck or nothing" we bled her, and
now we found it difficult to start the blood,
but did finally start small stream, then
started a second and kept them running,
(though the blood was thick and almost
black, till we had take three-quarters of a
pail full, and she could not stand without
staggering. We soon after left her for the
night, feeling that we had done all we
knew how to do, and about in the state Of
mind of the man who told the doctor at.
tending on his wife, that he would give
him ten dollars to kill or cure, and he
didn't care d-n which,
Well. the next morning, she came ou
brighter, and before night was up and eat
ing. and now, as far as we can see, is well
gaining in milk and bids fair to soon bt
up to where she was before she was sick
and we think if we had not bled her, or de
layed the attempt for two hours, she woult
now have kept the first company at tn,
roots of an apple tree.
So in future, when we have any
such trouble, where Inflammation is likel,
to ensue from continued pain and the SLOW
action of remedies, we shall bleed, and q
soon as practicable, and as freely as w
have before indicated, and in milk
fever. we believe it will save them erer
time.
For the true dairyman, one who has es