The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-09

secretion, hardly any to be drawn from
the udder. Sometimes the animal will
be crazy, dashing about the yard and
believing; sometimes in a quiet state,
taking no notice even of her calf or the
presence of a dog in the yard. This
disease is most likely to attack the best
cows in the herd-the deepest mixers,
which have the most abundant circula-
ton of blood In carrying the calf
portion of this circulation is diverted
to the sustenance of the fptus, and
when the calf is dropped it is all thrown
back into the ordinary channels-into
the mammary glands, to secrete milk
for The offspring, and into the general
circulation. In this condition the blood
vessels in the brain become congested,
resulting in the troubles indicated.
Sometimes the animal will fall down,
sometimes rising after, which is con-
sidered a favorable symptom, though
they may fall again directly and be APP
parently unconscious. The blood will
be found thick and dark, and in the last
stages before death will not flow from
a wound in the jugular. This being
the condition in disease, the obvious
way to prevent it is to change the diet
to secure lower condition of the sys-
tenn and less plethoric circulation, and
of less Fighter and thinner) quantity
of blood. This may usually be done by
lighter feeding for few weeks before
calving and giving laxative foods
bran mashes or il-meal-abstaining en-
tirely from heavy concentrated foods.
Salts may be given-anything that will
lower the general condition of the sys-
TEN and keep the bowels loose.
But when the disease has come, then
what? If the animal is down when
found Gas the attack is often sudden),
try to get her to lying in as nearly
natural position as possible, and prop
her there with sacks filled with straw
pressed under her side. If still stand
ing, so much the better, and the first
thing to be done is to bleed her. Tie a
cord tightly about the neck, as far back
toward the shoulders as possible, and
if tied tightly enough the vein can
soon be felt under the skin full and
hard. Then the feam should be placed
over the vein, the blade running along
with it, never cutting across it; then,
with a stick (such as a piece of hoe
handle) strike a smart blow on the
fleam and let the blood flow. DO not
let the blood run on the ground, but
catch it in vessel, so that you may
know how much you have taken. We
have taken sometimes from four to six
quarts, and half or two-thirds of a
common pailful may be taken safely.
When enough has been taken remove
the cord and the blood will stop flowing.
We have seen cow that was down
and in comatose condition, and, after
being bled as above described, she got
on to her feet and went to eating within
an hour. But recovery is not often so
rapid, and it is advisable in any case to
give half pint of whiskey with an
equal amount of water, after bleeding,
to stimulate the hearts action and the
arterial circulation. We have never
known case where this treatment was
adopted while the blood would flow
freely in which the animal did not re-
cover, provided the blood vessels in the
brain were not ruptured, in which case
death is certain. AS additional treat
ment ice or cold water may be applied
to the head, and the back along the
spine rubbed with strong ammoniated
liniment, but we place our hopes
chiefly on the bleeding and the whis-
key.
We have given considerable space to
this subject, but its importance and the
general lack of accurate knowledge in
regard to its treatment and cure we
believe warrant il.