The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-11-15

a
We N.%ioh ND to this time had been con-
s Tied Nevertheless, the medication
e'lo~oCommended by this writer, which
rcd red at the antiseptic treatment of
az womb, failed to decrease the
GREAT mortality of the disease, and
81 theory was finally entirely super
seded in 1897 by that of j. Schmidt
% Kolding, Denmark. This able in
es+igator first directed attention TO-
ward the udder by claiming (as
Schmidt of Muhlheim, had done) that
tbe disease was an auto-intox1catlon,
hit produced by the absorption from
tba udder of leucomaines, resulting
from the decomposition of the first
milk (colostrum). Following ZIP this
IDEA Schmidt considered that the
trootment should be directed toward
rotarding the secretion of the udder
ond at the same time neutralizing the
lnncomaines, or toxines, already pres
ont by the use of some antitoAic
AGENT. He therefore advocated the
Injection of the udder with an aqlle-
ous solution of potassium iodide,
which method was followed by an
immediate decrease in the mortality
to a very marked degree. The great
success attendant upon this line OF
treatment at once gave the theory
general recognition, and this very
difficult problem was at last thought
to be solved. Within the last few
wears the injections of etherized air.
oxygen, and sterile atmospheric air
have been used with wonderful sue
cess, reducing the death rate much
lower than the potassium iOdide had
done. It therefore seems that thor
ouch distention of the udder is far
more important than the antitox1c
action of potassium iodide.
Inexplanation of the efficiency OF
this treatment some writer's have
claimed that after calving the deter
mination of blood is suddenly
changed from the uterus to the I'D
der, which produces an anemia
(bloodlessness) of the brain. By
thoroughly distending the udder the
pressure therein causes a decrease In
its circulation, which tends to equal
ize the distribution of the blood in
ether parts of the body, thusrelieving
this anemia of the brain and the con-
sequent symptoms of milk fever 1t
has also been suggested that the high
ly favorably results obtained by the
injection of atmospheric air and other
gases into the udedr are due to the
fact that milk fever is produced by an
anacrobic organization Ga germ unable
to live in the presence of air., which
invades the udder. If this should
prove true it is probable that this
organism remains localized in the
udder, as the bacillus of lOckjaw re-
mains localized at the point Of in
jury, and produces a highly potent
toxine, which, when absorbed into the
system, has a specific action on the
nerve centers. These theories, how
ever, have not been proved, and the
determination of the cause of this
affection still requires investigation.
Symptoms
This disease in it's typical and most
common form is comparatively easy
10 diagnose and one which almost
every dairyman knows Immediately
before the arrival of the veterinarian.
II usually comes on within two days
alter the birth of the calf and is
practically never seen after the Sec
ono week. In isolated instances it
mas been observed few days before
carving. At the commencement of the
attack there is usually excitement;