486 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



should be reset, or replaced, once a month; nails should he of the best 

 quality, not too large and not driven too high, or too close to the sensi- 

 tive structures within the horny box of the foot; the feet are to be kept as 

 truly level as possible and while keeping the toes comparatively short, the 

 heels are not to be unnaturally lowered. 



PREVENTING NAVEL AND JOINT DISEASE OF FOALS. 



The trouble from navel and joint disease in foals may be successfully 

 prevented. In the first place it should be understood that the disease 

 is due to filth germs gaining access to the system of the foal by way of 

 the wide open umbilical vein of the navel at birth. When germs enter 

 they set up irritation and infiamation, pus forms and is absorbed into 

 the circulatory system from the original abscess at the navel and second- 

 ary abscesses form in other parts of the body, notably the joints of the 

 extremities. The affected foal is found to be suffering from heat, pain 

 and swelling of say a hock joint and the attendant takes it for granted 

 that the mare has caused the injury. Next day another joint may be 

 affected and in bad cases abscesses not only form in the joints but may 

 involve the throat or poll. It is comparatively rare that an affected colt 

 can be saved after the disease has progressed to the stage of pus formation 

 in the joints or elsewhere and those that recover are likely to prove 

 "weeds" for the balance of their lives. 



It is far better to attempt prevention of the disease than to have cases 

 of it to treat,, and simple hygenic measures will prove perfectly success- 

 ful where properly carried out. In the first place the mare should bring 

 forth her foal in a box stall especially prepared for her. Preparation 

 consists in removing every particle of bedding, litter and dirt. Saturating 

 the floor with a strong solution of disinfectant, such as four ounces of 

 sulphate of copper to one gallon of water, should be the next step and the 

 walls ceiling and partitions are to be treated in the same way. Then 

 whitewash everything. In the fresh made lime wash mix a quarter of 

 a pound of chloride of lime to each pailful and if possible apply by means 

 of a spray pump which forces the wash into every nook and cranny of 

 the wood or stone work. Put in fresh bedding when the above measures 

 have been carried out. This is to be done each time box stall is to be used 

 by a mare about to foal. 



Have two boxes set apart for foaling, keep each of them in the con- 

 dition above advised when foal is born, has been attended to and 

 mare has "cleaned" and been washed, turn mare and foal into second box 

 and at once prepare used box for next mare. When the foal comes, 

 immediately wet its navel with a solution of half an ounce of corrosive 

 sublimate in one pint of boiling water acidulated with one dram of hydro- 

 chloric acid. When cool, color this solution with a couple of drams of 

 tincture of iron and label "poison". After applying the medicine to the 

 navel, wash the foal's belly with a 2 per cent, solution of coal tar disin- 

 fectant and use the same strength wash for the udder and genitals of the 

 mare before the foal is allowed to suck. Repeat the applications of strong 

 solution at least twice a day until the navel cord dries up, drops off and 

 there is no raw spot left. The applications to the udder and genitals of 



