milk fever

noun

1. Pathology. fever coinciding with the beginning of lactation, formerly believed to be due to lactation but really due to infection.
2. Veterinary Pathology. an acute disorder of calcium metabolism affecting dairy cows shortly after calving, causing somnolence and paralysis of the hind legs.

milk fever

noun

1. a fever that sometimes occurs shortly after childbirth, once thought to result from engorgement of the breasts with milk but now thought to be caused by infection
2. Also calledparturient fevereclampsia vet science a disease of cows, goats, etc, occurring shortly after parturition, characterized by low blood calcium levels, paralysis, and loss of consciousness

Word History and Origins

Origin of milk fever¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

Occasionally the milk fever is preceded by a slight chill, or by a furred tongue, or sick stomach, but not very frequently.

From Project Gutenberg

In most cases it ceases naturally during the milk fever, and of course its disappearance then need not excite alarm.

From Project Gutenberg

Some persons prefer to let the child wait till the milk fever is established, before they let it nurse, but this is very improper.

From Project Gutenberg

One of his cows having died from milk fever, it was found necessary to replace it.

From Project Gutenberg

Before calving, milk-fever, or dropping after calving, is to be guarded against.

From Project Gutenberg