The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-27
LEAKING TEATS.
Some OF the Various Causes and Remedies
Of This Trouble.

Some oil the Various Causes and Remedies
OF This Trouble.
Escape Of milk from the teats may be
due to a variety of causes. One Of the
most frequent causes is a deficient devel-
opment of the muscular fibers which
form the sphincter of the teat. This
may be met with even in young cows,
but it does not often happen that all
four teats are thus deficient. Generally
it is only in one or two of the teats;
although in older cows the deficiency
may exist in all four teats. While in
heifers or young cows it may have ex-
listed since birth. the deficiency when
developing later on with age of the COW,
is often due to long hours between
milking, in which case the closing mus
Gle of the teat by frequent straining by
a too full udder, gradually loses its
power to retain the milk. and a con-
dition bordering on a state of paralysis
of the part results. With advancing
age, when the vital powers of resistance
diminish, the evil generally becomes
worse. Sometimes leaking of the teats
is due to the presence of small warts at
the end of the teat. which prevent the
closure of the canal. 1t may also be
due to assures from former wounds at
the end of the teats. sometimes due to
dog bites
The prospects Of cure are generally
not encouraging In young cows, when
the deficiency in the muscular structure
that encircles the lower part of the tcat
has existed since the animal was born.
SC =,
known to science whereby an increase
IN the number of muscle fibers can be
produced. In cows where the defect is
due to poverty or lack of vital energy,
the prospects are better. as by the way
of liberal keep and by the use of local
applications the deficiency may be over
come. When due to old age and conse-
quent general debility, the prospects of
cure are poor. In the case where leak
ing is due to warts at the orifice of the
teat, q cure is possible; but not SO
when it is due to assures or cracks at
the end of the canal. In all cases where
cure is possible. it should not be at
tempted when the COW has become dry,
or does not give any milk. as the dan
ger of irritation to the milk gland is
then at minimum.
In cases where the milk does not es-
cape before . certain quantity has ac-
cumulated in the udder, or SO much that
the closing muscle has not strength
enough to withstand more pressure
from the weight of the milk in the nd.
der. the best thing is to milk the COW
more frequently. This will not hurt
the COW and the milk will thus be saved.
But in the case where the power of re-
sistance is very limited in the closing
muscle of the teat SO that milk begins
to drip away again soon after milking,
as well as in the long interval between
night and morning. it will be necessary
to adopt some artificial means. by aid Of
which the milk may be retained within
the udder between hours of milking.
The use of more or less broad. soft
and elastic rubber band will answer tle
purpose. 1t must not fit tightly around
the teat, as it will then interfere with
the circulation of the blood in the teat,
nor must it be laid on double, if the
rubber happens to be too large 1t is
better to have the band little too loose
! fitting, as this can be easily remedied
by making one or two wraps of strip
! of linen or cotton round the lower part
of the teat, upon which the rubber may
be laid. Such piece of linen serves
also to facilitate the removal of the rub
Der band. as by pulling in the wrap the
| band will come of with it.
All medical applications in cases of
leaking teats when not due to fresh
wounds on the teat, should be delayed
to time when the COW gives no milk.
The only thing that may be used in q
case where the leaking is known to be
due to deficiency of strength in the
muscles that encircles the end Of the
teat is the application Of alcohol.
Among the applications that may be
used at such time when the COW gives
no milk. is solution of alum. Caustic
applications should be avoided except
in the hands of an expert, and then not
ut the orifice of the teat, because they
are likely to produce entire closure OF
the same When the leaking is ascer.
tanned to be due to the presence of small,
warty growths at the orifice of the
teat, these may be removed by clipping
them of very close to the surface with
very small and sharp scissors, such as
are used by surgeons. The resulting
wounds may be touched frequently
with piece q bluestone. The removal
of the warts may be facilitated by pres
sing the skin on the teat upwards, as
these small, fat warts are generally 10.
Gated on the surface OF the membrane
inside the end Of the teat 1t can not
be too often repeated that all such
operations and applications should be
delayed until time when the COW give.
no milk, and they should not be al
tempted during the last six weeks be
fore calving, as there may then be dan
ger of causing serious Inflammation o.
the teats and the udder.-Country Gen
tleman