492 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DROPSY OF THE NAVEL. 
A sac formed at the navel, by contained liquid accumulated by reason 
of sucking by other calves, is unsightly and sometimes injurious. After 
making sure that it is simply a dropsical collection it may be deeply 
punctured at various points with a large sized lancet or knfe, fomented 
with hot water, and then daily treated with a strong decoction of white 
oak bark. 
THE BLUE DISEASE (CYANOSIS). 
This appearing in the calf at birth is due to the orifice between the 
two auricles of the heart (foramen ovale) remaining too open, allowing 
the nonaerated (venous) blood to mix with the aerated (arterial) blood, 
and it is beyond the reach of treatment. It is recognized by the blue- 
ness of the eyes, nose, mouth, and other mucous membranes, the coldness 
of the surface, and the extreme sensitiveness to cold. 
CONSTIPATION. 
At birth the bowels of the calf contain the meconium, a tenacious, gluey, 
brownish yellow material largely derived from the liver, which must be 
expelled before they can start their functions normally. The first milk of 
the cow (colostrum, beestings), rich in albumen and salts, is nature's 
laxative to expel this now offensive material and should never be withheld 
from the calf. If, for lack of this, from the dry feeding of the cow, or 
from any other cause, the calf is costive, straining violently without pass- 
age, lying down and rising as in colic, and failing in appetite, no time 
should be lost in giving relief by an ounce dose of castor oil, assisting its 
action by injections of soapsuds or oil. Whatever meconium is within 
reach of the finger should be carefully removed. It is also important to 
give the cow a sloppy, laxative diet. 
INDIGESTION. 
This may occur from many different causes, as costiveness; a too liberal 
supply of milk; milk too rich; the furnishing of the milk of a cow long 
after calving to a very young calf; allowing a calf to suck the first milk 
of a cow that has been hunted, driven by road, shipped by rail, or other- 
wise violently excited; allowing the calf too long time between meals, so 
that impelled by hunger it quickly overloads and clogs the stomach; feed- 
ing from the pail milk that has been held over in unwashed (unscalded) 
buckets, so that it is fermented and spoiled; feeding the milk of cows 
kept on unwholesome food; keeping the calves in cold, damp, filthy, or 
bad-smelling pens; feeding the calves on artificial mixtures containing too 
much starchy matter; or overfeeding the calves on artificial food that 
may be appropriate enough in smaller amounts. The licking of hair 
from themselves or others and its formation into balls in the stomach 
will cause obstinate indigestion in the calf. 
