494 
IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
tribute to start the disease de 7iovo. Other things being equal the strong, 
vigorous races are the least predisposed to the malady, and in this re- 
spect the compact from the healthy coat, the clear eye, and the bold, 
active carriage are desirable. Even the color of the hair is not unim- 
portant, as in the same herd I have found a far greater number of vic- 
tims among the light colors (light yellow, light brown) than among those 
of a darker tint. This constitutional predisposition to indigestion and 
diarrhoea is sometimes fostered by too close breeding, without taking due 
account of the maintenance of a robust constitution, and hence animals 
that are very much inbred need to be especially observed and cared for 
unless their inherent vigor has been thoroughly attested. 
The surroundings of the calf are powerful influences. Calves kept in- 
doors suffer to a greater extent than those running in the open air and 
having the invigorating influences of sunshine, pure air, and exercise; 
but close, crowded, filthy, bad-smelling buildings are especially causative 
of the complaint. The presence in the air of carbon dioxide, the product 
of breathing and of the fetid gaseous products of decomposing dung and 
urine diminish by about one-fourth of their volume the life-giving oxygen, 
and in the same ratio hinder the aeration of the blood and the mainten- 
ance of vigorous health. Worse than this, such fetid gases are usually 
direct poisons to the animal breathing them; for example, sulphurated 
hydrogen (hydrogen sulphi(^e 2 SHJ and various alkaloids (ptomaines) 
and toxins, neutral poisonous principles produced in the filth fermenta- 
tions. These lower the general health and stamina, impair digestion, 
and by leading to the accumulation in stomach and bowels of undigested 
materials they lay the foundation for offensive fermentations within 
these organs, and consequent irritation, poisoning, and diarrhea. They 
further v/eaken the system so that it can no longer resist and overcome 
the trouble. 
The condition of the nursing cow and her milk is another potent cause 
of trouble. The food of the cow is important. The influence of this is 
shown in the following tables: 
BECQUESSEL AND VERNOIS. 
Character of [Feed 
S3 
as 
o 
■^.^ 
nS o fc^ 
S M «« 
sag 
u 
CO 
2 
03 
Cows on winter feed- 
Trefoil or lucern, 12-13 pounds; oat 
straw, 9-10 pounds; beets 7 pounds 
water, 2 buckets 
Parts in 
1,000. 
871.26 
8.59.56 
838.68 
SS8.77 
8M.90 
Parts in 
1,000. 
47.81 
54.70 
47.38 
.33.81 
33.14 
Parts in 
1,000. 
33.17 
36.38 
35.47 
38.03 
36.90 
Parts in 
1,000. 
42.07 
42.76 
52.54 
33.68 
56.87 
Parts in 
1,000. 
5.31 
6.80 
5.93 
5.72 
6.18 
Cows on summer feed- 
Green trefoil, lucern, maize, barley, 
grass, 2 buckets water ___ 
Goat's milk on different feed- 
On straw and trefoil 
On beets 
Normal mean 
