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.