Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-09-11
MILK FEVER IN COWS.
Possible Causes Discussed and Rem.
edies Suggested.

Possible Causes Discussed and REM
edies Suggested.
There are many cows lost each year
from milk fever, and the worst fea-
ture about it is that it is very apt to
be the best cows in the herd-that is,
those best for milk production. 1t may
be that in some cases it is caused by
overlooking, says American Cultivator,
especially during the period that they
go dry before calving We do not re-
member ever having seen or heard of
a case where it happened to a heifer
dropping her first calf. Possibly drying
off too early or rapidly may cause it
in some cases, or Il neglect to draw the
milk if the udder fills before calving,
thus creating a fever by the ABSORB
ton of the milk into the system. 1t
seldom occurs to cows that are not
let go dry at all or are continuous
mixers.
1t usually begins about the second
or third day after the calf is born, and
the first symptoms are usually a chill
and nervous twitching of the head or
ears. Then comes the stage where the
animal refuses to eat. and the secre-
tons of milk are lessened and the bow
els constipated, after which the COW
is down and refuses to stand up. If it
gets to this stage, there is but little
chance of saving the life, though we
have done so by the giving of doses of
one pound of salts in which was put
an ounce of jamaica ginger or perhaps
a gill of whisky or rum. then injec
lions of warm soapsuds until there
was a movement of the bowels.
This may be better as a treatment
for preventing it il given a day or
two before she calves. Other proven
lives are not to feed too highly just
before or after calving. Give some
moderate exercise and avoid cold
winds or rains, heavy drinks of very
cold water or allowing the COW to lie
down in a cold place. 1t may be con-
Stitutional weakness in some cows due
perhaps to close breeding, too high
feeding of the mother or lack of eXer
else. 1t sometimes seems to be an cpl
demic and attacks almost every COW in
the herd, yet in such cases we should
to the treatment of the whole than to
itbcing contagious.
The treatment by cold water cure
has been recommended by some-that
is, wrapping her body in a wet sheet,
then covering with two or three wool
en- blankets and rubber blanket if at
hand. This should start a perspiration
in fifteen to twenty minutes, and if it
does not repeat it. To move the bowels
take one ounce nuX vomica, sixteen to
eighteen ounces glauber or epson salts,
four and a half ounces common table
salt, and boil for ten minutes in two
quarts of water; then give pint once
an hour. With this should go the injec
ton of warm sOapsuds. taking care to
see that she can swallow by trying
with a little water first.
Another remedy recommended by
some veterinarians, especially if the
animal is so nearly paralyZed as to
have difficulty in swallowing. is by
podermic injection of esorine or ergo
tine the esorine at one to two grains
in water enough to dissolve, the ergo
tine twenty to thirty grains in as much
water as will dissolve or two and
half ounces fluid extract, which may
be repeated in twelve hours. The ESQ
rine need not be given but once, as if it
fails to act the bowels are paralyzed.
While by this treatment those cases
that are detected in the early stages
can usually be cured, it is almost hope
less when the animals have reached
that condition of paralysis where they
cannot stand on their feet when lifted
up.