RURAL TOPICS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9698, 1 November 1909, Page 2

RURAL TOPICS.

MILK FEVER,

The term, milk fever, is scarcely applicable, fever not being an accompanying symptom. Among veterinarians the ailment is known as "parturient apoplexy," which, though sounding somewhat scientific, is more appropriate. The actual cause of the malady still remains obscure. It generally attacks cows after the third calf, or when the cow is at its prime; and, as a rule, the best milkers aud the best-conditioned animals suffer. Symptoms generally show themselves soon after calving. The animal first manifests restlessness, presently the hind-quarfcers seem to be affected, and before loug the cow falls, making ineffectual attempts to rise, and swings her head about violently, often doing herself injury iv this way. There should be no delay iv commencing treatment. It the animal is down, it shuuld be propped up, by doubling: the fore-legs underneath the brisket, and raisiug the body into the natural recumbent position, retaining this attitude by means of sacks of chaff placed as supports ou either side. The next step is to inflate the udder with air. This is done by means of a special milk fever syringe. The metal tube or teat syphon must first of all be boiled in water for five minutes to sterilise it. The cow should be milked, and tho udder well "stripped" ; then the tube of tho air-pump is carefully inserted up the teat into the gland. Air should be pumped in so as to inflate each quarter of the udder; then the ends of the teat may be geutly tied witli tape, to prevent the escape of the air when the tube is withdrawn. When each quarter has been inflated, the whole udder must bo thoroughly kueaded or massaged, iv order to distribute the air throughout the glaud. The catheter should also be used, but only by a qualified vet., and th 3 last portion of the bowel should be emptied by the hand as carefully as possible. .

Here is something that should not be done. On no account attempt to administer any medicine by the mouth, or fatal choking may possibly result, as the animal is practically in a paralysed condition. Frequently the cow will recover within a very short time after the use of the syringe, though occasionally the treatment may have to be repeated. Iv the abseuce of an orthodox milk fevor syringe, good results have followed the use of an ordinary bicycle pump; but the filtration of the air injected is all importaut.

As a preventative, it is recommended that the condition of the cow be kept down, by placing her ou poor pastures about a month before calving. A fortnight or so before calving give the animal a drench containing 12oz Epsom salts aud half an ounce of powdered ginger in a quart of water, aud this might bo repeated should the condition of the cow appear to render such necessary. IE the services of a qualified vet. are available, they should be procured without loss of time, and thus, possibly, save the life of a valuable animal.