GARGET AMONGST MILKING AND FEEDING COWS.

Southland Times, Issue 3341, 6 March 1879, Page 3

GARGET AMONGST MILKING AND FEEDING COWS.

A flush of abundant grass and clover produces a good many cases of inflammation of ihe udder, also termed garget or mammitis, especially in some of the western and northern counties of England. The condition which usually gives? rise to inflammation of the udder is retention of jmUk, often induced by careless dripping, by sore teals, or by the cruel practice of 'overstocking or ' hefting." It also results from blows and injuries, from 1 attacks of foot-and-mouth complaint, and from exposure to cold and wet which sie7e on the mucous and fibrous texture of the udder — the most sensitive vascular and vulnerable part of a good milch cow. Many recentlydried feeding cows suffer from garget. Wet weather, or succulent or forciug feeding, stimulates the recently active' udder ; milk is secietedj the irritable, enlarged state of the bag often, however, escapes notice : the fluid is not drawn away — it becomes stale, and the source of irritation. Hot weather especially favours' this decomposition. On stroqg^wet land, dry cows are further liable to sufferfrom garget conjoined with rheumatic' in-> flammation of the joints. the skin and raucous coat of: the. bag are first and most prominently affected ; the case is a|so<-t of catarrh of the udder ; the °kin of the affected portion becomes hard.' sh;r.iug: and somevrha 1 " led'lened. But in the worst cases the glandular and 'connective tissues are also inflamed ; one quarter or one half may be attacked ; more rarely the whole organ is involved ; often the seizure is ushered in by shivering and fever. From exudation pressing upon and blocking the secreting parts the yield of milk is diminished, it is drawn away with difficulty, and ,is serous, curdled, and offensive. The bag in' a few days is very tender and painful, much swollen, " hard, and nodulous :'and the swelling extends forwards to the chest, and back to the hind quarters. The cow usually stands, or lies with the inflamed part upwards. When inflammatory . symptoms are not combated, within a week, induration and loss of a quarter or of half of the gland result. Sometimes during the "several months the cow is dry the indication gradually disappears, and the damaged quarter again becomes serviceable. Wnen inflammation has been intense, , and continues for six or eight days, suppuration may be expected, and abscesses form, opening into the teat, bursting externally, or requiring to be opened. - When the whole gland becomes inflamed, and is not promptly relieved, still more unfavorable results may ensue, the part may be mortified, or the acute inflammation and fever kill the patient. ; As to treatment, the first matter is to Teinpty the udder of every particle of milk that can be withdrawn. If the teat is. too'tender, or is blocked with knots of curd, a syphon must be used, and milking repeated at 'intervals of two or three hours. Warm fomentations followed by poultices of spent hops or of bran afford .much relief, should be frequently repeated^ and applied suspended ,on a w_eb passed, round the 'loins with a Tshaped piece'running backwards and upwards ( between" the hind limbs and secured, to the web, passing over the loins. Such poultices ' and bandages, softening and mechanically 3upporting^the inflamed organ, remove congestion and pain, and greatly hasten recovery. Extract or ointment of belladonna rubbed - daily over the tender udder, not only abate tension and pain, but also lessen the trouble--some secretion of milk. Clots of curd ac-' cuinnlatingMn the teats must be gently broken' down, and got away either by the hand or by - the teat syphon. In "chronic cases the hard swelling shonld be rubbed' twice daily with a stimulating dressing "which may consist of equal parts of watery' solution of iodine, tincture of opium, and soap- liniment. Abscesses must he opened and dressed with antiseptics. Constipation and febrile symptoms should be combated by oil and treacle, and a daily dose of four ounces of Epsom salt and an ounce of nitre will relieve fever and lessen milk ' In acute cases aconite is prescribed. Unless the cow is reduced, the diet .for" 'some days should be sparing, and not succulent.