Milk-fever. The establishment of the secretion of milk about two days after delivery is occasionally the cause of considerable constitutional disturbance, with all the symptoms of the feverish state. This occurs especially when the infant is not applied soon enough to the breast, and especially when the mother is kept on too low a diet; a fact which probably explains the much greater frequency of the condition in former times, when such treatment was considered necessary. The disturbance of health is not serious, and passes off when the breasts are emptied.
In the lower animals, also, milk-fever comes on within a few days after parturition. One variety, common to most animals, consists in inflammation of the membranes of the womb and bowels, and is produced by exposure to cold, overdriving, or injury during labour; it is best treated with oil and laudanum, tincture of aconite, fomentations to the belly, and antiseptics such as carbolic acid (largely diluted) injected into the womb itself. The other variety, to which alone the term 'milk-fever' should be applied, is almost peculiar to the cow. It attacks animals in high condition, that are good milkers, and have already borne several calves, and consists in congestion of the brain and large nervous centres, and impairs all the vital functions, leading to dullness, loss of sensation, stupor, and complete unconsciousness. Blood must be drawn early, whilst the cow is still standing and sensible; later it only hastens death. A large dose of physic, such as a pound each of salts and treacle, a drachm of calomel, an ounce of gamboge, and two ounces of ginger, should at once be given, solid food withheld, clysters of soap, salt, and water thrown up every hour, cloths wrung out of hot water applied along the spine, the teats drawn several times daily, and the animal frequently turned. Although treatment is uncertain, prevention may be ensured by milking the cow regularly for ten days before calving, feeding sparingly on laxative, unstimulating food, giving several doses of physic before and one immediately after calving, and, when the animal is in very high condition and prone to milk-fever, bleeding her a day or two before calving.