Special report on diseases of cattleUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special report on diseases of cattle
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Cattle -- Diseases
(8) The recumbent cow is kept resting on her breastbone, with the head
elevated, even if it should be necessary to pack around her with straw
bundles or to suspend the head by a halter. When lying on her side she is
liable to develop fatal bloating and to have belching of gas and liquids,
which, passing down the windpipe, cause fatal broncho-pneumonia.
(9) If in 2 hours the cow is not on her feet, if there is no brighter or
more intelligent expression, if she has passed no manure or urine, and if
the air has become absorbed, leaving the udder less tense, the injection of
the bag may be repeated, under the same scrupulous and rigid precautions as
at first. In all cases, but especially in severe ones, it is well to keep
watch of the patient, and to repeat the distention on the first indication
of relapse. Should there not be a free discharge of feces and urine after
rising, indicating a natural resumption of the nervous functions, the case
should be all the more carefully watched, so that the treatment may be
repeated if necessary.
Accessory treatment may still be used, but is rarely necessary. A dose of
purgative medicine (1-1/2 pounds of Epsom salt) in warm water may be given
in the early stages, while as yet there is no danger of its passing into
the lungs through paralysis of the throat. Eserin or pilocarpin (1-1/2
grains) may be given under the skin to stimulate the movements of the
bowels. Sponging the skin, and especially the udder, with cool water, may
be resorted to in hot weather.
Bloating may demand puncture of the paunch, in the left flank, with a
cannula and trocar, the evacuation of the gas, and the introduction through
the tube of a tablespoonful of strong liquid ammonia in a quart of cold
water or other antiferment.
The economic value of the new treatment of milk fever is enormous. The
United States has more than 22,000,000 milk cows. If we could raise their
quality by preserving and breeding from the largest producers of both milk
and butterfat, in place of losing the best by milk fever, as in the past,
and if we could thus obtain an average increase of 2 quarts a day, the
proceeds at 3 cents a quart would amount to $130,000,000 a year.
PALSY AFTER CALVING (DROPPING AFTER CALVING).
This consists in a more or less complete loss of control of the hind limbs
occurring after calving, and caused by low condition, weakness, and
exposure to cold or to injurious compression of the nerves of the hind
limbs by a large calf passing through the pelvis. Its symptoms do not
differ from those of palsy of the hind limbs, occurring at other times, and
it may be treated in the same way, except so far as bruises of the vagina
may demand special smoothing treatment.
CONGESTION OF THE UDDER (GARGET).
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