St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-03-15
MILK Power nv COWS
Disease Attacks Only Animals of Inn
proved Breeds-Symptoms, Pre-
ventiOn, and Treatment.

Disease Attacks Only Animals of Inn
proved Breeds-Symptoms, Pre-
ventiOn, and Treatment.
Milk fever, also known as parturient
apoplexy, not only is peculiar to the
cow but attacks only cows of the i'm
proved breeds and of deep milking
strains, says the Weekly News Letter
of the Department of Agriculture. It
chiefly affects cows that have been de-
veloped in the direction of early ma
turity, rapid fattening, or heavy pro-
duction of milk. The victims are not
always fat when attacked, but they
are COWS with great powers of diges-
ton and which have been fed heavily
previous to the onset of the disease.
Cows are seldom affected until they
have reached full maturity and are at
the most productive period of their
lives-that is, from to 8 years of age.
In heavy milking cows all the food
eaten in excess of that required to
make up for the normal waste of the
system is turned into milk. When the
flow of milk ceases If the animal is
fed heavily, the excess of nutriment
from the food has no avenue of es-
cape, and is consequently stored UP in
the glands and in the blood. causing
the animal to become unnaturally
plethoric, or affected by excessive nu-
triton. After the delivery of the calf,
the blood which has been supplying
the fetus is suddenly turned into the
circulation of the mother, and if she
does not begin the secretion of milk
promptly the plethora of her blood
rapidly increases.
Symptoms of Disease.
The disease usually manifests itself
within two days after the birth of the
calf, although in rare instances the
COW becomes affected prior to calving.
Great uneasiness is one of the first
noticeable symptoms The COW steps
about restlessly and refuses to eat or
drink. She may soon begin to show
signs of abdominal pain. Paralysis be-
gins to be manifested within a few
hours. being indicated by staggering,
uncertain gait. The patient now be-
comes quieter. rapidly weakens, and
finally goes down and is unable to
rise. The head is drawn around to
one side, usually the left, producing
an attitude that is not often seen in
any other disease. The animal soon
becomes quite unconscious.
The temperature, at first elevated,
tends to become lower as stupor and
coma progress The bowels may be-
come torpid or completely paralyzed,
and unless improvement is brought
about they are not likely to operate
again. The bladder, too, is paralyzed
and fails to expel it's contents. Action
of either bowels or bladder, or both,
is always a favorable symptom.
The torpor of the digestive organs
nearly always causes grave disorders;
the paunch becomes the seat of fer
mentation, producing gas and excess
sive bloating. There are frequent
belchings of gas or food, which,
reaching the paralyzed throat, pass
in part into the windpipe, causing in
Illumination of the air passages and
lungs, which condition often becomes
the immediate cause of death.
Means of Prevention.
For such a serious disease proven
ton is more important than treatment.
Among the most effective means of
prevention may be mentioned re-
stricted diet for a week or two be-
fore calving and for at least four days
afterwards. Free access to salt and
water is important, as the water serves
to dilute the dense rich blood and
salt encourages the animal to drink.
The water should be warmed suitably,
as iced water may have a bad effect.
A cow that is in a very plethoric
state. or that was attacked by milk
fever at her last calving, should be
given a purgative dose Il pound) of
epson salts IL to "a hours before
calving is due. A most important
precaution in a plethoric COW is to
avoid drawing any milk from the bag
for IL to "a hours after calving. Daily
exercise is of Importance, and the
value of the open air can not be over
estimated. Rich clover pastures
should be avoided.
Method of Treatment.
1t is a good practice to give a dose
fpurgative medicine if the air treat
ment, to be recommended later, is not
available. Epson salts 2 pounds, car