Part 12

LOSS OF CUD.

CAUSE.—This condition cannot always be traced to a definite cause, as it is a symptom of all diseases where the process of rumination is interfered with. The only method by which a cow will again chew her cud is to restore her to health by the proper medical treatment. Artificial cuds are of no value and frequently are a detriment to the animal. Other symptoms aside from those of the animal not chewing cud will always make their appearance, as constipation, diarrhoea, elevation of the temperature, etc. The animal should be thoroughly examined and the disease treated under its special heading.

MANGE.

(Scabies)

CAUSE.—There are four different parasites which produce Mange or Scabies in cattle. However, three of these parasites are rarely seen. The Symbotis Communis is the parasite commonly seen in American cattle. These parasites multiply very rapidly and are conveyed from diseased animals to healthy ones by their bodies coming in contact with one another and by healthy animals rubbing against fences, walls, posts, etc., where mangy cattle have previously rubbed.

SYMPTOMS.—Scabs, loss of hair, intense itching, the animals are constantly rubbing or licking themselves. The parts showing the first signs of Mange are those about the croup, or the root of the tail, the neck and withers, but as the disease progresses and no attempts are offered for its eradication, it finally spreads and covers the entire body. The scabs become ulcerated, the animal becomes weakened, emaciated and eventually dies.

TREATMENT.—Dipping in wood or concrete vats is the most satisfactory method of treating Mange. The regular lime and sulphur dip as recommended by the United States Bureau of Animal Industry is inexpensive and effective.

MEASLY BEEF.

It is produced by a larva of common tapeworm of man. These small tapeworm cysts (tænia saginata) are about the size of a pea and found in the flesh of cattle, which become infected by eating food or drinking water which has been contaminated by the feces of persons harboring adult tapeworms. Then again, the person becomes infected by eating raw or rare flesh of cattle infected with the larva stage of Measly Beef. Great care should be exercised to prevent cattle from becoming infested with this parasite. Persons’ feces should not be placed where it will infect food or drinking water that is consumed by cattle.

MILK FEVER.

(Parturient Apoplexy)

CAUSE.—Certain conditions predispose cows to Milk Fever, as being heavy milk producers, cows having enormous digestive power and being heavily fed on nitrogenous food naturally are in a good condition, consequently at the time of calving, or shortly after, they are likely to develop a case of Milk Fever. It is more common during the summer months, although this condition may develop at any time of the year in the type of cow described above.

SYMPTOMS.—At or a few days after calving, the cow is noticed hanging back in the stall, dull, languid, with an unsteady movement of the hind legs. If the cow is made to walk, she steps unsteadily or staggers, pays no attention to her calf; she finally becomes so paralyzed that she falls and is unable to rise. The pupils of the eyes are dilated and the membranes reddened or congested with blood. The cow may lie on her breast or flat on her side, but most likely upon her breast and her head turned in the region of the flank. She apparently is sound asleep. If the eyeball is touched with the fingers she does not close the eye, nor will she evince any pain when being pricked with a pin on any part of the body. The nose is dry, the temperature is below normal in most cases.

TREATMENT.—When the above signs are noticed, whether the cow is standing or lying down in a paralyzed condition, obtain an ordinary bulb injection syringe; insert a tube in the end from which the air escapes. After washing both syringe and teat tube in a five per cent solution of Carbolic Acid, milk or strip out all the milk possible from the bag, then insert the teat tube that is connected to the syringe in each teat, filling them well with air, and repeat this treatment every hour until the cow stops staggering, or if lying down, stands on her feet. It is necessary to strip the milk from the bag before giving an injection of air. If the cow is lying flat on her side, prop her up by placing bags of hay or straw against her side, also make her as comfortable as possible. If lying in the hot sun, provide shade by placing a canopy over her made from burlap; if the weather is chilly, blanket; if flies annoy her, use some fly repellant.

This disease is satisfactorily treated. Where ninety per cent of the cows died at one time, ninety per cent can be saved by the above treatment. It is a custom with some people to use an ordinary bicycle pump for treatment of Milk Fever. This should not be practiced, as there is great danger of infecting the bag and producing serious complication.

MEDICAL OR AFTER TREATMENT.—Never drench a cow. Give physic consisting of Aloin, two drams; Ginger, three drams. Place in a gelatin capsule and give with a capsule gun. Also, give tonics as Pulv. Gentian Root, two ounces; Pulv. Capsicum, one ounce; Pulv. Nux. Vomica, two ounces. Mix and place into eight gelatin capsules. Give one capsule every eight hours. This tonic is quite necessary, as it stimulates their appetite, braces up their nervous system and prevents any complications that might otherwise follow.

PARALYSIS.

(Congestion of the Brain or Spinal Cord)

CAUSE.—May be due to a morbid condition of the brain or spinal cord, concussion of the spinal cord, fractures of the bones of the spinal column, or violent shocks or jars of the brain, or pressure due to fractures of the skull, or dilated or ruptured blood vessels. Paralysis also occurs in poorly fed, weak cows when exposed to cold or wet weather during the latter stages of pregnancy. Sometimes the back portion of the bowels (the rectum) becomes paralyzed so as to interfere with the expulsion of the feces which becomes dry and more or less impacted. This condition may also occur in connection with Ergot, Forage or Lead Poisoning, Milk Fever or Parturient Apoplexy.

SYMPTOMS.—Appear very suddenly. The animal is unable to stand, lies quietly and groans occasionally. Constipation generally accompanies this condition. Sometimes great pain is present, especially if due to fracture or pressure, as above mentioned.

TREATMENT.—If just due to weakness; exposure to cold, wet weather; cows prior to calving; slight injuries or mild effect of poisons, it is successfully treated by placing the animal in a comfortable, well lighted stall, omitting drafts, feeding nourishing food, as warm wheat bran mashes, steamed rolled oats or barley and linseed meal; tea to drink prepared as follows: Pour one quart of boiling water on one-half pint of Pure Flaxseed, allowing it to cool, compel the animal to drink it. Repeat this once or twice daily, especially if the animal is pregnant. A physic consisting of Aloin, two drams; Ginger, two drams; prepared in capsule and given with a capsule gun is very effective, but this, however, should not be administered to heavily pregnant cows. Endeavor to move their bowels by careful feeding of laxative food and rectal injections of soda and water. Nerve stimulants are necessary and I have derived good results from the following: Pulv. Nux Vomica, four ounces; Pulv. Ginger, four ounce; Pulv. Gentian Root, four ounces. Make into sixteen capsules and give one capsule every four to six hours. Also apply powdered mustard, moistened with a sufficient quantity of water to make a paste, and rub over the full length of the spine about eight inches in width. This should be covered with paper which will adhere readily to the mustard and water. This application can be repeated every twenty-four hours until satisfactory results have been obtained.

RED WATER.

(Hematuria)

CAUSE.—Marshy pastures, water from rich decomposed soil. Vegetation also has a tendency to produce it as cattle eating green shoots from oak, ash, hellebore, hazel and other resinous plants, etc.

SYMPTOMS.—Bloody urine containing no blood clots. This condition is not noticed as a general rule until the cow loses flesh and the production of milk is considerably decreased. One particular symptom of this disease is the milk being exceptionally foamy and perhaps tinged with blood. If the disease is left to run its course, the cow will become emaciated and eventually dies.

TREATMENT.—Find out the cause and remove it if possible. See that the water supply is clean, feed nitrogenous food, as wheat bran mashes or steamed rolled oats. Do not permit the animal to eat resinous plants as stated above.

Administer Pulv. Gentian Root, four ounces; Pulv. Nux Vomica, four ounces; Pulv. Ferri Sulphate, four ounces. Mix and make into sixteen capsules and give one capsule two or three times a day with capsule gun. If the animal is constipated, give two drams of Aloin, three drams of Ginger. Place in capsule and give with capsule gun.

RETAINED AFTERBIRTH.