The Star. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1904. DISEASES IN COWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7873, 7 January 1904, Page 2

The Star.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1904. DISEASES IN COWS.

the cow's milk for one season, a proceeding which would soon become very expensive where many cows arc afiected. It has been remarked that the knife is the best solution of the difficulty. Whether that is so or not we can pass no opinion, but the subject is one that Is worthy of a great deal of attention, and it is evident that if the vets, who as yet have not had time to thorough^ investigate, have no other suggestions, one of the two alternatives will have to be acted upon.

Deltvoretl every eromnif by 6 o'clock iv Havre™ Miinuia, Narimuihy, Okiiinwn, Elthixu, Miu^atoki, iiHjKJUxa, Awutunn, Opunake Otakuho, MuuKtahi, Alton, Hurleyrille, Pauiu, and Waver Icy.

{Several mouths ago a disease in cows was brought under the notice of Captain A, R. Young, of the Government Veterinary Department, by the ISltham branch oi the New Zealand Farmers' Union. It appears that the disease has been in the district for a number of years, and is believed to be very prevalent at present. In fact, it is .stated on good authority that the majority oi thq cows are afiected more ox less by it. The first notification the farmer receives is that when the cow comes into profit one teat will be dry, although there 13 plenty of milk in the udder, On examination it will be found that in the teat there is a knot which effectually prevents the removal of the milk. *If a probe be u^ed the rni]k is at once obtainable, but the instrument has tp be used at every milking, 1 anij this continual irritation produces a collection of matter which proves most unmistakably that some other means will have to be respited to. Dr Harrison, of Eltha.ru, who takes considerable interest in veterinary wpek, operated on one ox the teats which had been affected for some time, and succeeded in cutting put a tumor j about the size of a pigeon's egg. The operation was quite successful, as the milk cam"c very freely afterwards, but the skin on the teat w^s too thin, and after the wound had been sewn up one or two stitches gave way, and a leak in the teat resulted. About three months ago Captain Young was communicated with, and after he had inspected several herds the disease was pronounced to be con1 tagipus mammitis, which is rapidly spread by the hands during the course of milking. The disease is not unknown in the Old Cpuntry, where* it is more readily transferred a^ong the grgund as' the animals lie down in the. byres. The remedy suggested by the vet was the injection of 4 per cent boric acid fpr a wepk. It does not appear whether the farmers have tried the remedy for the full time, but it is reported that when the acid is injected the udder becomes swollen and very ' painful, while the milk dries up. Also it is not clear what causes tin's-— whether it is the air I which cannot be kept out during the progress cf injection or whether it is the action pf the acid. Mr T. O. JJpdgson, secretary of the Elthatiji branch of the N.3.F.U., has just received the following enquiry from Captain Young :-— With regard to the disease, contagious mammitis, in cows as existing in 1 ypur locality, I should be very pleased to hear from you again when convenient as to (1) have any more of ypur cows taken it ; (2) have you heard of any fresh cases in the district ; (3) has the treatment suggested by me proVed useful, or any other, information yo.u may be pleased to give. In another ietter Captain Young says that the remedy suggested is strongly recommended by Professors Nocard and Mplleraux, the well-knpwn specialists, " who, of course, attach no importance to the loss of milk from afiected cows Sp long »«? ti^sy are afjle to stamp \ out the disease." The inverted! commas are pur pwn, as it seems that that latjter portion }s of cpnsidetfrble inpment to the dajrymen of this district. The position is, practically this : 2f the farmers are going to use the suggested remedy they will have to face the Joss of