Cocked ankles are due to an inflammation of the tendons back of the ankle and a drawing up or contraction in consequence.  Put on heel calks one inch, no toe, to rest and relieve the back tendons from strain.  Apply the following liniment at night, after which put on cold-water swabs and let them remain all night:  Soap liniment, 8 ounces; tincture iodine, 2 ounces; oil cedar, 4 ounces; sulphuric ether, 2 ounces.  Mix and apply once daily.

Dehorning.

Which is the best way to dehorn cows and calves?

The best time to dehorn cows is in the spring, before the fly season starts.  It is best not to have a cow too far along in calf before dehorning, as she is very apt to lose her calf.  It is also better to dehorn before your cows freshen, because when cows are milking and are dehorned they will go back in their milk a great deal for the first month after the dehorning has taken place.  Calves can be dehorned by blistering the little buttons before they adhere to the skull.  This is very simple and not painful.  First clip the hair about the horns and wet the little loose button and apply caustic potash, in stick form, by rubbing it on the damp horn.  Remember, this must be done before the horn adheres to the skull.  Also remember not to use water enough to run the lye away from the button and rub until the skin reddens.  Also, look out to keep your end of the potash stick dry or you may dehorn the tips of your fingers.

Paralysis During Pregnancy.

I have a cow that will freshen in a few days.  About six days ago she seemed weak in her hind legs and on going downhill would drag or stumble for 10 or 12 feet, then catch herself and go on rather wobbly.

Pregnant animals about to bring forth their young sometimes show a paralysis or loss of power in their hind parts due to pressure of foetus.  Nature corrects this after birth.

Bloody Milk.

What can be done to stop bloody milk?

Milk each teat in a separate glass jar, let stand to ascertain which teat the red specks are coming from, then milk the teats clean and inject the infected teat with equal parts of hydrogen dioxide and water.  After a few hours inject 4 drachms of ferric chloride in 1 ounce of water.  Then milk clean.

To Cleanse Cows.

My cows are healthy and calves all right, but seem to have trouble throwing the afterbirth.

Wash out twice daily with about 1 gallon of normal salt solution (teaspoonful of salt to each pint of warm water).  Give internally the following powder:  Pulv. gentian, 4 ounces; puv. slippery elm, 1 ounce; puv. charcoal, 1 ounce; pulv. hyposulphate of soda. 8 ounces.  Mix and give a heaping teaspoonful twice daily.

Treatment for Caked Bag.

I have a cow whose udder is caked hard and has been swollen from the udder to the forelegs.  This latter swelling has gone down by applying equal mixture of turpentine and lard, but the udder itself still remains hard.  When first noticed, one teat caked, then another, until all four are caked alike.