Manual of veterinary homeopathy

This disease is not so dangerous as tympanitis, yet it may prove fatal from bad treatment or neglect. It is generally the result of improper or indigestible food, or food in too great quantity, or that to which the animal is not accustomed. If colic comes on after indigestible food, it is accompanied by constipation and thirst. Certain kinds of food, such as grains, oats, decayed turnips or cabbages, or dry food, are liable to induce it, or it may arise from exposure to cold when the body is warm, or from cold drinking when the body is heated.

It consists in severe paroxysms of pain in the bowels, and, if neglected, is liable to cause inflammatory disease of the digestive organs.

Symptoms.—Sudden manifestation of pain in the belly, by uneasiness, pawing the ground, striking the belly with the hind legs or horns, often lying down and then rising, grinding the teeth, and moaning. When caused by wind, the belly is much swelled on the left side, and there is frequent passage of flatus. The animal’s back is arched, and she frequently looks at her flanks, scrapes with her fore feet, and kicks with the hind ones. All these symptoms increase, until she expires amid groans and grinding of the teeth. Or the following may be noticed:

The animal refuses to eat, looks to its sides, paws the ground, kicks against the body with the hind feet, lies down, rises again, and continues these movements till unable longer to keep upon its feet. Often the animal falls down so violently that it seems as though the four legs were suddenly struck away from under it, or he squats down like a dog upon his hind quarters, rolls over, lies upon his back for a time, with the legs stretched upward, and generally acts as if frantic. The horns, ears and feet are alternately hot and cold. The animal suffers from thirst and constipation, the longer the constipation the more acute the pain; the paunch is much swollen. If recovery takes place, the symptoms are gradually mitigated, and then entirely disappear. On the other hand, if the pains get worse and become more frequent, the bowels become inflamed, and if the pains, under these circumstances, suddenly disappear, the inflammation terminates in gangrene (mortification), and the animal dies.

Treatment.—The F. F., will almost invariably be found successful. Give a dose of twenty drops every half hour until relieved. If not better after a few doses, and should there be fever, alternate the A. A., the same dose, with the F. F., at the same intervals. As the animal seems relieved, or partially so, give the remedies at longer intervals.

Constipation

This is rarely of grave consequence in cattle, and when it exists, is usually a symptom of some other disease. When present, a dose of twenty drops of the J. K., given morning and night, will soon set all right again. If there is suspicion of some inflammatory condition lurking in the system, the A. A., in like doses, will have the like effect.

Tympanitis—Hoove—Blown—Drum-Belly—Grain-Sick—Heaving of the Flanks—Maw Bound

This disorder—of very frequent occurrence among cattle, though not belonging exclusively to them—is of two kinds; one due to the evolution of gas from the food taken, the other to the impaction of the food. In one case the gas produces enormous inflation of the rumen, or first of the four stomachs possessed by cattle, in the other distension.

Diagnosis.—To Mr. Surmon we are indebted for the following table of

Causes.—When cattle, especially such as have had poor and scanty food, are turned into a rich pasture, or stray into the fields of lucern, etc., they will often eat ravenously, and take more than they can digest. Wet grass in warm weather, or fodder that has become heated in consequence of being heaped together while damp, may also be too freely eaten. The consequence is that the rumen is overloaded, and the contents, under the influence of warmth and moisture, ferment and evolve what is at first carburetted hydrogen; and subsequently sulphuretted hydrogen; or, if there be no formation of gas, the food remains solid and undigested. Drinking excessively of cold water, eating too much bran, chaff, unboiled potatoes, uncrushed oats, grains, boiled roots or turnips, may cause the same condition.

Symptoms.—These may appear suddenly, but always soon after the animal has been feeding, generally on returning from the field; they may, however, occur in the stable. The animal ceases to eat or ruminate, is swollen or “blown” over the whole belly, but particularly at the flanks or left side, where the distended stomach lies. The rumen is enormously swollen, the pillars of the œsophagus are tightly closed, thus preventing the escape of gas; and the greater the distention the firmer is the closure of the œsophagus. The swelling yields when pressed by the finger, and gives forth a hollow sound, like that from a drum when it is struck. There are also sour and noisy belchings of wind; the cow does not move, moans, and is evidently in great distress. The distended rumen presses on the diaphragm and impedes the action of the heart and lungs, causing shortness and difficulty of breathing; the nostrils are widely dilated, and there is a threatening of suffocation. As the disease advances, the pulse becomes hard, full, and quicker than before; the eyes are bloodshot, glazed, fixed and prominent; the mouth is hot and full to dripping of frothy slaver; the tongue hangs out; the veins of the neck and chest are distended with blood; the poor beast crouches, with its back bent up; the legs are drawn under the body; the tail is curved upward; the anus, which is closed, protrudes. The body is now covered with cold sweat; the animal stands in one place, continually moans or grunts, trembles, totters, falls, struggles violently, ejects from mouth and nose sour fluid mixed with solid food, and at length sinks and dies, either from suffocation or rupture of the stomach.

Treatment.—This is the same whether the distention is from gas or impacted food. F.F. may be given a dose every quarter or half hour. We give the method of puncturing, which, however, need never be resorted to if the F.F. be administered.

Puncturing.—Relief is sometimes very urgently required, and this is best afforded either by plunging a trocar into the left side, or by passing a probang down the œsophagus into the paunch. If the trocar is used, let the canula of the instrument be ten or twelve inches long, so as to prevent the paunch from slipping away from the canula and causing delay, and perhaps further danger. Chloride of Lime is valuable after the animal is somewhat relieved by the use of the trocar; about two drachms should be mixed with a quart of water. In case of immediate relief being imperative, and a trocar not being at hand, a long, sharp pointed pen-knife may be used for puncturing. The place for puncturing is midway between the hip and ribs, where the distended rumen is prominent; the direction is inward and downward. The puncture will be followed by an outrush of gas, fluid, and even portions of food. A quill, or some other tube, must be ready to be inserted in the hole immediately after the knife is withdrawn, otherwise the wound will close. If nothing tubular be at hand, a smooth piece of stick must be put in, or anything else that will serve the purpose of keeping open the wound till the gas has escaped. The danger of this operation is not from the wound itself, but from the escape of the contents of the paunch into the abdomen, which would cause peritonitis, or from piercing the spleen or kidney. The operation can only be regarded as a rough one, to be adopted in case of great emergency.

When distension has ceased and matters have to some extent resumed their ordinary course, the animal should remain some hours without food or water. The food afterwards should be sparing and suitable.

J. K., should be administered two or three times daily until the animal is fully recovered.

Diarrhea, Scouring

Diarrhea is more common in old cattle and calves than in those of middle age, where it is generally of little importance, soon correcting itself, especially in the spring, when herds are first turned into green fields. The usual causes are: decayed cabbages, bad grains, or other improper food, or impure water; sudden change to rich pastures; the use of purgative medicines; exposure to cold and wet, acrid bile, sudden change from dry to wet weather, or severe exertion in hot, dry weather.

Symptoms.—The disease comes on slowly, with staring coat, shaking, arched back, fore legs drawn together, cold legs, ears and horns, weak pulse, tucked up belly, bowels rather looser than usual, deficient appetite. The animal becomes thinner, more depressed and dull; little or no milk is given, and the bowels are purged to an alarming extent. This purging may stop and then reappear to end fatally, or terminate in dysentery.

Treatment.—We should, of course, give food not so loosening in its character and the F.F., a dose of twenty drops two or three times per day, will usually be found quite sufficient. In extreme cases, or in case of failure with this remedy, the I.I., may be alternated with it, at the same or even more frequent intervals.

Diarrhea or Cholera or “Skitt” in Young Calves

Is quite common, and not unfrequently dangerous. In its more dangerous form it appears the first or second day, and it is then presumably caused by the feverish or unhealthy condition of the mother’s milk. In its natural condition, this first milk is laxative and intended to act as a removal of the first passages in the new born calf.

When the milk is very rich in butter, as in the Jersey cattle, it becomes excessively laxative, especially during the period of the milk fever, or the first three days after calving. The passages are noticed to be very frequent, loose, liquid, or even watery, with weakness and rapid wasting; the legs and ears become cold, and, in extreme cases, short breath and panting with the tongue out.

Treatment.—The dam should always have a dose of A.A., soon after calving, and this should be continued, a dose at least three times per day for four days, or until the usual danger from milk fever is passed.

If, however, the dam has had no treatment, give her a dose alternately of the A.A., and of the F.F., at intervals of three hours, to change the feverish or unhealthy nature of the milk, as well as to give the calf the Remedy through the mother’s milk.

Give also to the calf a dose of five drops of F.F., once in three hours if the case is urgent, or three times per day if but slight, and gradually omit as the calf improves. If the F.F., fails, give I.I., a dose every fifteen minutes or half hour at first until relieved, then once in three hours.

Dysentery—Johnes Disease

This is a disease which has existed on certain farms for years without either the owners or Veterinarians knowing what it was, and it is only within the last few years that we have known that it was caused by a definite disease germ.

Symptoms.—This disease usually attacks whole herds rather than individual animals. At first there is loss of condition and weight with rough coat and dry skin, then diarrhea is noticed, the discharges being brown and like molasses. There is no fever, but the animal has little appetite and keeps getting thinner and weaker all the time until it finally dies from exhaustion. The course of the disease is long—from two months to three years—and is always fatal.

Treatment.—In suspected cases give F.F., twenty drops every three hours, until the animal improves or the disease becomes thoroughly developed in which latter case the animal should be killed at once, and the place disinfected as given under abortion on page 122.

Stomatitis

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the lips, cheeks and gums and occasionally also of the palate and tongue. It may occur as one of the symptoms of a disease of the digestive organs or general disease; or may be caused by thorns, sharp teeth, rough food, poisonous plants, mercury, fungi, etc.

Symptoms.—The membrane of the mouth is red and inflamed and the animal does not eat because of the pain in chewing. In some forms of this disease there are also swellings and tenderness about the pasterns and cracks and scars on the udder and teats, which makes the disease look very much like foot and mouth disease. However in foot and mouth disease, the whole herd and also hogs and sheep are attacked, while with stomatitis only a few cattle are affected.

Treatment.—Give C.C., in the morning, and I.I., at night, also wash the mouth with Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel and water half and half. Give plenty of clean pure water, and only soft or liquid food, such as gruels, mashes, etc.

There is also a form of this disease which attacks calves (calf diphtheria) usually under six weeks old. The mouth is covered with yellow-gray patches and there is high fever, swelled glands about the throat, and great weakness. The treatment is the same as given above, except that as the disease is contagious, the calf must be separated from the other animals and everything that it has come in contact with disinfected.

Boulimia—Excessive Appetite

An unusual increase of appetite is a symptom of a morbid state of the constitution. Though the animal eats largely, greedily, and even shows a disposition for uncommon food, which he takes gluttonously, he may become more and more emaciated. Suitable food should be given; at the same time it should be fresh, and not in excessive quantities, although there is a desire for it. Fresh, cold water should also be given.

Impaction of the Omasum Fardel Bound—Dry Murrain

The first three stomachs of ruminants do not secrete fluids and are dependent for their action on saliva and swallowed liquids. Hence if an animal has not had sufficient water or a fever has dried up the saliva, the food may become dry and caked in the folds of the third stomach.

Symptoms.—There is loss of cud and appetite, the right flank is full and hard on pressure. In slight cases the animal may remain standing, but usually is lying on the left side with nose against the right flank. There is constipation alternating with diarrhea. The legs and horns are cold and the coat “hide bound.” These are the usual symptoms, but sometimes the animal becomes frantic, and rising rushes blindly about often doing itself considerable damage.

Treatment.—Give A.A., and J.K., alternately every two hours. In addition to this give a plentiful supply of liquids, such as linseed tea, 2 to 3 buckets daily; also enemas of warm water with a little salt are often helpful. During convalescence the diet should consist of sloppy food with plenty of water and salt.

Irregular Teeth

May be looked for if an animal presents the following symptoms: The beast becoming thinner gradually, and eating less food than usual; slaver dribbling from the mouth along with half-chewed food, especially while the cow is cudding; she is “hoven” or bloated at different times; a bad smell comes from the mouth, arising from ulceration of the side of the cheek, caused by irregular teeth.

Treatment.—The mouth must be carefully examined, and all long or irregular teeth must be shortened and smoothed by means of the tooth-rasp.

Gastritis—Gast ro-Enteritis—Inflammation of the Stomach

Definition.—Gastritis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the abomasum, extending, generally, into the duodenum (gastro-enteritis). It is not of unfrequent occurrence, and usually accompanies enteritis. (See next section). It is a very dangerous disease, and frequently terminates fatally.

Causes.—They are the same as those of enteritis—improper food, musty hay, acrid plants, impure water, etc.

Symptoms.—The beast is heavy, dejected, restless, scrapes the ground with the fore feet, strikes the belly with the hind feet, grinds the teeth, looks around at its flanks and belly, groans, lows; the look is sad, the eyes red; the ears, horns and feet cold; the muzzle dry; the abdomen somewhat swollen and extremely tender; there is diarrhea and vomiting, and cessation or deterioration of milk, which, when drawn, is thin, yellowish, stringy, and irritates the udder; sometimes it is reddish and offensive. Spasms and colic are occasionally so intense as to make the animal furious. M. Gelle has observed that the most constant symptoms of gastritis are: loss of appetite, arrest of rumination, and abnormal condition of the tongue. If the inflammation be intense, the tongue appears to be contracted, straighter and more rounded than usual, red at the point and along the edges, and the papillæ are elevated and injected. In some intense cases, when several of the viscera are involved, the tongue is yellow or green.

Treatment.—A.A., is the first and principal remedy, and may be given, at first, a dose every half hour or hour. As the animal improves, the intervals between the doses may be prolonged, and only at the conclusion, when the animal has become free from the more active symptoms, or they have subsided, the J.K., may be given for the remaining debility of the digestive organs.

No solid food should be given until convalescence sets in. Small quantities of fluids may be given in the form of oatmeal or flour gruel, or water.

Enteritis—Inflammation of the Bowels

Definition.—Inflammation of the intestines, throughout a greater or less extent of their course, and involving all the coats of the intestines or only the mucous lining.

It generally attacks cattle of middle age and robust health; sometimes appears as an epidemic in certain districts, and seems to be most prevalent in hot summers.

Causes.—Sudden exposure to cold, or drinking cold water when heated; eating acrid or unwholesome plants; mildewed food; too stimulating diet; drinking impure water; sudden change from poor to rich food; colds, injuries inflicted on the abdomen, the presence of a large number of worms in the intestines; badly managed colic, continuing more than twenty hours, and ending in enteritis; animals inflicted with colic may so injure themselves by falling or rolling over that this complaint may be the consequence.

Symptoms.—Shivering, dullness, extreme restlessness; frequent lying down and rising again, with signs of pain in the bowels; hard, small and rapid pulse; quickened breathing; hot mouth and violent thirst; red and protruding eyes; pawing and kicking; frequent efforts to urinate, but no water, or only a few drops, are discharged; the pain, which is most intense and constant, is increased by pressure and moving about. The hair is rough, the loins tender, the abdomen swollen on the left side, and incapable of bearing pressure; the bowels are obstinately confined; the fæces hard and glazed with slime; but occasionally liquid dung is forced with dreadful agony through the hardened mass obstructing the lower bowel, and all previous symptoms become aggravated. If the latter disease lasts a few days, and there is a sudden cessation of pain, this is a sign that gangrene (mortification) has set in; the feet and ears become quite cold, and after a while the animal falls heavily, struggles convulsively for a brief period, and dies.

Diagnosis.—As the symptoms of this violent complaint resemble, in many respects, those of colic, it may be well to point out the distinctions between the one and the other.

Treatment.—A.A., should be given at first, a dose every fifteen minutes, and after an hour, a dose every thirty minutes, and after three or four hours, a dose once an hour, which should be continued until the disease yields; only should there be considerable gas or bloating, or extreme pain, a dose or two of F.F., may be interposed.

Accessory Means.—Hot water is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of the disease. It may be applied externally by steeping cloths in the water, and closely and compactly, but not too tightly applying them to the body and securing them by belts. Hot water may also be given, either as a drench or as an injection. The water must not be so hot as to scald the animal. The administration of A.A., as stated above, and hot water applied copiously to the body of the animal locally, and occasionally in doses of from a half-pint to a pint internally, will constitute the principal features of the treatment at the commencement of an attack. If applications of hot water are used, the animal should be afterwards rubbed dry and well covered with suitable dry cloths.

If discovered in time, an inflammation of the digestive organs will generally yield to the prompt use of the above remedies. Linseed tea, or oatmeal gruel, will form the most suitable diet.

Peritonitis—Inflammation of the Peritoneum

Inflammation of the membrane which invests the abdominal viscera is very similar to enteritis. It is rapid in its course, generally ending fatally in six or eight days.

Causes.—Lesions, contusions, and wounds of the walls of the abdomen; surgical operations, castration, sudden cold, infection while calving.

Symptoms.—Inflammatory fever; the animal shows great sensitiveness when the abdomen is touched, shrinking when any one approaches it, or flexing the painful part when it is touched; looks around at the seat of pain; generally there is swelling of the belly and tightness about the flanks. The beast rarely lies down, or, if it attempts it, rolls on its back; when standing, it keeps the extremities near the centre of gravity, and bends the back downward. The abdomen is hot, the ears and hoofs cold; the pulse rapid, short and wiry. The termination may be in acute ascites, in adhesions of the peritoneum, or in gangrene, the latter being recognized by sudden cessation of pain, small, weak and intermittent pulse, and rapid prostration.

Treatment.—The cause of the infection must first be removed, and this may require the assistance of a Veterinarian. A. A. is the proper medicine and should be given fifteen drops every half hour as long as there is any hope of a favorable termination. It will do all the good that any medicine can do.

Flukes, or Rottenness

This term is applied to the condition caused by the presence of fluke worms in the liver or bile ducts, where they sometimes exist in large numbers, causing great swelling of the liver.

Cause.—The disease is chiefly developed in low districts, and after damp seasons. The worms are taken in with the food and developed in the liver.

Symptoms.—Depression, sadness, inertness, loss of appetite; watery, red, yellowish, purulent eyes; yellowish tint of all parts not covered with hair; fœtid smell of nose and mouth; hard skin; dull, erect hair; irregularity of excrement, which is white, watery and fœtid.

Treatment.—The principal remedies are A. A., at first, and then, after a day, alternate C. C., with the A. A., a dose once in three or four hours.

Suppressed or Scanty Urination

This is usually the result of some disease of the kidneys, or a mere symptom of other morbid condition, or it may arise from a paralytic condition of the bladder itself. This condition will generally be promptly relieved by giving a few doses of H. H., twenty drops, at intervals of four, six or twelve hours, according to the urgency of the case.

Inflammation of the Kidneys, Nephritis

This disease has many symptoms in common with cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder, and its treatment scarcely differs. It occasionally occurs in cattle, and may be excited by blows upon the loins, calculi, or small stones formed in the kidneys, or by eating poisonous plants, or the use of strong allopathic medicines.

Symptoms.—The animal brings the fore legs together, bends the back downward, and presses with pain when endeavoring to pass water; the loins are hot, more so than the remainder of the body, sometimes even burning. The rectum is hot, dung scanty and passed with pain. There is a great desire to pass water, but only a few drops escape, which is at first limpid, then thick, and of a deep red color. The gait is stiff, appetite gone, no rumination, but great thirst.

Treatment.—Give H. H., a dose of twenty drops, every two, three or four hours, according to the intensity of the disease.

This disease is not so common in cattle as in horses, but may be occasioned by cold or injuries in the region of the loins. It is manifested by the following.—

Symptoms.—The animal constantly keeps the back arched; the walk is stiff, and the animal, when standing, leans against something on one side or the other; frequent effort to pass water, but to little purpose, as only a small quantity, of deep red color, is passed at a time. The bowels are bound, evacuations scanty and passed with pain. There is no appetite or rumination, but intense thirst; the eyes are prominent, and the countenance evinces great distress.

Treatment.—The H.H., will be found perfectly appropriate, and may be repeated, in doses of twenty drops, every three or four hours, until entire relief is experienced.

Hematuria—Discharge of Blood with the Urine

The discharge of blood with the urine is more apt to be a symptom of some other disease, such as Inflammation of the Kidneys or Bladder, or Texas Fever, than to be a disease in itself, although it may occur as such.

Symptoms.—Hematuria usually attacks cattle at pasture on low marshy land. At first the quantity of blood is small, but it gradually increases, and it often forms clots which stop up the passages, causing retention of urine and even bursting of the bladder. The animal grows weak and pale, and sometimes drops of blood are seen on the hairs around the opening.

In some cases the animal appears to recover, but in a little while another attack occurs. The disease usually ends fatally, but only after about two years.

Treatment.—Although this disease is usually fatal, it is not known to be contagious; therefore we advise making every effort to save the animal. Give H.H., twenty drops every four hours at first, and as the disease mends, night and morning.

The natural period of gestation is about nine calendar months, or from 270 to 285 days. For a month or three weeks before the time of calving—or, if poorly in condition, two months—the cow should be allowed to dry; otherwise the unnourished calf will be of little value when it is born. If the cow be milked too long, there is also danger of bringing down the new milk and causing puerperal fever, or inflammation of the udder. On the other hand, a cow should not be fed too high. For some weeks, as the time approaches, the food should be limited in quantity, and be given more frequently, otherwise the rumen will be so distended with food or gas as to press upon the uterus, alter the position of the fetus, and thus render parturition difficult.

Cows, when well attended to, calve very easily and require little assistance. For a few days there is a mucous discharge from the vagina; the animal is restless and uneasy; groans, and breathes more quickly; the udder rapidly enlarges; the abdomen drops. The cow should be allowed to be quiet; it is a cruel and dangerous practice to rouse and drive her about. The restlessness soon increases; the cow keeps getting up and lying down; at last she remains on the ground, and, if all goes well, the calf is soon born. The expulsive pains cause the exit of a considerable quantity of fluid, or of a pouch full of serum. When this pouch bursts, the pains increase and the calf is expelled. If there be any difficulty, the fetus may be drawn forward during a pain. The cord breaks of itself, at some distance from the umbilicus. The afterbirth, cleansing, or placenta, is not always passed at once; it may remain for several hours partly or wholly within the womb, causing some danger of fatal consequences; but manual interference should not be allowed till the action of medicines has been found ineffectual for its removal.

Treatment.—The general treatment has been sufficiently indicated in the foregoing. If the labor be tedious, a dose of A.A., will often help. After two hours, another dose might be given; and in some extreme cases, when the pains have nearly ceased, a dose of the G.G.; will often help.

The animal should be kept in a roomy, well-aired place, free from superfluous litter, covered immediately after calving if the least danger be apprehended; fed sparingly for some days, principally on mashes and small quantities of hay.

The udder should be frequently and well stripped of its contents.

Failure to come in Heat—Sterility

Failure to breed in the cow may occur in two different forms—first impotence, in which the cow fails to come in heat, and second, true sterility, in which, although she came in heat and was bred the service proved unfruitful.

The first of these cases may be due to some malformation of the sexual organs in which case it is incurable; but it is more often due to insufficient or over-feed, or lack of exercise, or over-work, or some depressing disease.

Treatment.—Correct the exercise and feeding, and give G.G., every night for a week, or, if the case is urgent, a dose morning and night, and then a dose daily until the result is manifest.

True Sterility may also be caused by malformations and be incurable, but is more often caused by other things such as a catarrhal condition of the vagina—Leucorrhea or to ardent heat, or insufficient food, or debility from disease.

The Treatment for Leucorrhea or a catarrhal condition of the organs, which may be known by a constant or frequent discharge from the vagina, give G.G., each morning and J.K., at night, and continue this for several weeks, or until she is again served.

In addition dissolve one cake of fresh compressed yeast in a pint of tepid water, then after a few hours, add another pint. Then wash the vagina well with soap and water and use the dissolved yeast as a douche, this should be done daily for several days.

Where there is an excess of excitement, too ardent or too frequent, or even constant heat, give at first, H.H., a dose morning and night, for two or three weeks, then a dose or two of G.G., and the result will usually be satisfactory.

Where there is unthriftiness or want of good condition, correct the feeding and give G.G., morning and J.K., at night.

Cleaning after Calving

In some cases, from torpidity of the calf-bed, the afterbirth is retained, which may result in very serious consequences.

A dose of twenty drops of G.G., will soon cause its expulsion and the healthy cleaning of the animal. It may be repeated, at intervals of four hours, if necessary.

Flooding after Calving

Some blood is necessarily lost after calving, and it is only when the amount is excessive or continues some time, or threatens to weaken or destroy the animal, that the term flooding can be applied to it. It may be occasioned by injuries received during the process of delivery, or from the calf-bed not sufficiently contracting from atony or want of vigor or that organ.

The symptoms need not be described; any continuous flowing from the bearing, before or after delivery, and especially after the passage of the cleansing, should receive medication.

Treatment.—The cow should be kept quiet and be permitted to lie down, and twenty drops of the G.G., be given every hour, or even every half hour, in urgent cases.

Cold injections, cold, wet cloths, applied to the loins, or cold water poured upon the belly, are not necessary, and are not without danger.

The teats crack into sores, which become painful, and discharge, the contents mingling with the milk; the pain occasioned during milking renders the cow restive, and soon tends to make her vicious and to keep back her milk; garget, hence, is apt to arise from the milk remaining in the udder and causing irritation.

Treatment.—Humphreys’ Veterinary Oil is sovereign for Sore Teats. In bad cases, wash the teats carefully with warm water; and after drying with a soft cloth, apply the Veterinary Oil, which repeat morning and night, simply oiling the sore places or cracks. Give also I.I., morning and night; and after three or four days the J.K., unless indeed the trouble has not been quite cured by the use of the I.I., and the Veterinary Oil.

Garget, or Inflammation of the Udder

This is most liable to arise after the first calving, and may be traced to exposure to cold and damp, especially if the cow is in good condition, or from not milking the cow clean, so that the milk remains and causes irritation, or, in some cases, the bag may be wounded by lying upon it.

Symptoms.—A portion of the bag becomes hot, painful and swollen; then hard lumps or “cakes” can be felt in the teats, or in one portion of the bag; other parts of it become affected in the same way; the pulse is full, quick and hard; breathing is quickened; the mouth and horns hot; bowels bound, and other symptoms of fever are present. If the disease is allowed to go on, the fever becomes more severe; the cow does not eat or chew the cud; the swelling, previously hard, becomes soft from the formation of matter; the milk becomes mixed with matter, and, in some cases, with blood. If the disease is not arrested or matter is not let out, it will spread, making its way slowly to the skin, through which it at last bursts, leaving deep, long ulcers, which heal with difficulty, and in many cases a portion of the udder is lost, as regards its power to produce milk. If this result is avoided by judicious treatment, some hardness may remain, which requires time to remove.

Treatment.—Keep the udder well milked out, and give the A.A., in alternation with C.C., and apply Humphreys’ Veterinary Oil. This will generally disperse the heat, hardness and inflammation. But should suppuration have come on, and the abscess point showing a soft spot, lance it, and continue C.C., and Veterinary Oil, morning and night.

Dropping after Calving—Milk Fever—Puerperal Fever

This disease is of frequent occurrence and quite liable to be fatal, unless under proper homeopathic treatment. It is much more prevalent some seasons than others, owing, doubtless, to peculiar atmospheric conditions, and is more malignant some seasons than others.

There are certain causes which predispose to this disease; thus fat; stall-fed cows are more liable to it than poor or lean ones; the complaint is more common in the variable weather of early spring and late fall; a cow once having the disease is more liable to a return than others. The exciting causes are: exposure to cold and wet; driving the cow a long journey too soon; giving too much or too rich food soon after calving.

Symptoms.—This fever usually begins shortly after calving, usually within twenty-four hours; if three or four days pass over, the cow may be considered safe from an attack. The earlier symptoms are: the cow refuses her food or only eats a little of it; she is depressed, hangs her head and looks dull; the horns are hot; the nose, instead of being damp with healthy dew, becomes hot and dry; the urine is scanty; the bowels are confined, or, if moved, the dung is hard and lumpy; the pulse is quicker and fuller than in health; the breathing is quickened and attended with heaving at the flanks.

To these warning symptoms are added, with more or less rapidity, the more formidable ones, which are often first to attract the attention of the owner. The milk is reduced in quantity or entirely stopped; the eyes glisten and look bright and staring; the white of the eye is covered with numerous red streaks, or is of a leaden color; the eye-balls are thrust forward in their sockets, and give the cow a somewhat wild and anxious expression; the hind legs seem weak, and are separated a little from each other; she appears to stand uneasily upon them, resting for a time on one foot and then changing to the other; this paddling and shifting from one leg to another continues as the difficulty of standing increases, until the animal supports herself by leaning against the stall; she does not chew the cud; all discharge from the bearing is stopped; the calf is neglected; the pulse becomes slower than before, and the breathing more difficult; the udder is hard and swelled, and little or no milk can be drawn from it; gradually becoming worse, the weakness in the hind legs increases, so they can no longer support her; she staggers and sways about, falling, at length, heavily on the ground; she struggles, tries to rise again, and may or may not succeed, but in either case soon loses the power of rising, and lies helpless upon the ground. In this stage of the complaint the symptoms vary. In some cases we have the following: The cow tosses her head from side to side, writhes her body and lashes her tail, struggles, stretches out her hind legs, moans and bellows, and seems to suffer great pain. The breathing is also difficult and labored; the skin covered with clammy sweat; the paunch enormously swollen from accumulated gas. Unless this swelling subsides, the breathing becomes more difficult and labored; the pulse more rapid and oppressed, so as scarcely to be counted; the legs very cold; pain is worse; fetid gas rises from the stomach, and death ensues.

In other cases the foregoing symptoms are absent, or exist only in a slight degree; and we have the following: The cow lies stretched out at full length on her side, or her head is brought to the opposite side, with the nose towards the shoulder and the chin on the ground; or the head is twisted directly backward, with the nose held out and the horns upon the shoulder, in the most awkward manner. The eyes are dim and glassy; the pupils are dilated, rounded, and do not contract at the approach of light; the ears drop; the mouth is partly open; the lower jaw drops if the head is raised; she has not the power to hold up her head; she has lost the sense of feeling, and can scarcely swallow, if at all; difficult, rattling breathing; pulse weak, slow and intermittent, or even imperceptible; horns, legs and surface cold and chilly; swelling of the belly increases; udder swelled, hard and sometimes red on the outside; in some cases dung and urine suppressed. All these symptoms become worse by degrees, and unless relieved, death ensues generally within two days from the attack, sometimes in a few hours.

Treatment.—The symptoms of this disease appear so suddenly, and run so rapid a course, that if the disease is prevailing, or there is reason from any cause to apprehend it, the cow should be watched about the time of calving, and a dose or two, of fifteen drops, of A.A., should be given soon after. This will act as a preventive, and arrest any premonitions of the disease, and we would counsel its continuance; at least an occasional dose, morning and night, for two or three days. It will favor the early and feverless production of milk.

Should the disease have made its appearance with evident fever, unequal warmth, bloating, suppressed discharge from the bearing, etc., give A.A., a dose of twenty drops, every two or three hours, until the disease is arrested.

Only in the last extremity, with labored breathing, extreme bloating, and entire loss or rapid failure of strength, the I.I., may be alternated with the A.A., at intervals of two hours, in doses of twenty drops, until the system rallies, when the two medicines may be continued at longer intervals.

Nursing and Care.—The cow should be placed in a clean, roomy stall, so as to be allowed to rise and to be attended with facility; laid on clean, dry straw, no dung allowed to remain, and be comfortably clothed, according to the season. The milk should be frequently drawn off and the udder hand rubbed. She should be with the fore part of her body higher than the hinder part, or on a level, with her legs under her in a natural position. She must be on her side and supported by bundles of straw, and on no account be allowed to lie out full stretched, in which position she will become worse and surely die. Small quantities of warm gruel are best for food.

There have lately come into vogue “Milk Fever Outfits” by means of which the udder is filled with sterilized air. While there can be no objection to this treatment either alone or in conjunction with the A.A. In our experience the A.A. alone is quite sufficient.

Abortion

Abortion or premature birth may occur from three different causes:

1—Accidental Abortion.—Caused by a blow; strain; slipping on a wet floor, over-strain from pulling a heavy load, etc.

2—Enzootic Abortion.—Due to some infectious disease of the mother.

3—Contagious Abortion.—A distinct disease which causes the death and expulsion of the fetus or its expulsion in a feeble state prior to the normal period.

Symptoms of Threatened Abortion.—In the first three months of pregnancy, the appearance of a bloody, watery or mucous discharge from the vagina. In the later months, uneasiness, swelling, heat and tenderness about the udder; secretion of milk; and straining as if in labor.

Treatment of Threatened Abortion.—Give fifteen drops of G.G., every six hours, and the dose may be repeated two or three or more times should the threatening symptoms continue after the first or even the second dose has expended its action.

This interval should elapse between doses, as too rapid ones may even defeat the object, by over-excitement of the system, while a single dose often arrests an abortion if permitted to expand its action.

After a cow has actually aborted, it is almost impossible to tell whether it occurred from contagious abortion or from some other cause, so the safe thing to do is to act as if it had been contagious abortion.

Treatment of Contagious Abortion.—The fetus and membranes should be burned. The premises occupied by the sick animal should be disinfected as follows: Remove all bedding and dirt possible and spray all available parts of barn with 3% formalin or 5% carbolic acid solution. Apply white wash containing 1 lb. chloride of lime to 3 gallons of whitewash, scatter quicklime on floor and gutters.

The animal which has aborted should receive daily a vaginal irrigation of two gallons of warm water containing 2% lysol until the vaginal discharge stops. The external parts about the vagina, including the hips and tail, should be washed thoroughly with soap and water and then with the lysol solution as above, twice daily. This should also be done to all exposed pregnant animals in the herd, being careful not to use the same cloth, solution, bucket or attendant, for the well animals that was used for the sick one.

Also give G.G., at intervals of six hours.

Falling and Protrusion of the Womb

After a difficult labor, or when manual help has been injudiciously applied, the womb may be everted or turned inside out. The organ then is partly or quite protruded and appears as a deep red mass covered with smooth red bodies (glands).

In order to replace, the cow should stand with the hind feet higher than the fore feet, the hand of the operator should be wrapped with a soft cloth soaked in warm milk and smeared with Humphreys’ Veterinary Oil, and gentle pressure should be continuously and carefully applied to the mass until it gradually returns to its proper position. Dry or inflamed parts should be washed in warm milk and kept well anointed with the Veterinary Oil. Give also A.A., at first every three hours, and later alternate G.G., with the A.A., a dose once in six hours.

Where CASES of SIMPLE PROTRUSION OF THE ORGAN occur without retroversion, give A.A., morning and G.G., at night, feeding light easily digested food, which will be effective.