MILK AS THE SOLE DIET OF RUMINANTS 511 



calves normally fed attained weights about four times as great 

 as their ^birth weights. Similarly the increases in body meas- 

 urements were much less than normal in the case of the calves 

 fed milk alone. Of the increases in body measurement the height 

 was the most nearly normal while width was farthest from it. • 



In addition to the variations in weight and body measure- 

 ments there were other abnormal symptoms which though very 

 appreciable were not capable of 'being directly measured or de- 

 termined. The animals became very much emaciated and quite 

 unthrifty in appearance. Their coats were long and staring and 

 the hair fell out freely. Patches of the body became practically 

 devoid of hair and sores also were apparent. As has already 

 been mentioned the animals were down on their pasterns and 

 could not stand up properly and they walked with a very stiff 

 gait. 



One very^ noticeable feature of the experiment was the occur- 

 rence of fits. These fits were first apparent whea the animals 

 were between three and four months of age and continued to 

 occur at frequent but irregular intervals up until ahout three 

 weeks before the death of the animals. These fits were all very 

 similar and frequently started for no apparent reason and could 

 almost always be induced by leading the animal around for a 

 few minutes. The animal would fall down, and bellow as if in 

 pain; the jaws would stick open and the legs become rigid; the 

 muscles 'became tense and hard ; respiration slowed and in severe 

 attacks entirely stopped. Where respiration did not stop the 

 animal would recover in a few minutes and where breathing 

 ceased artificial respiration had to be resorted to, to resuscitate 

 the calf. The fits were practically identical with those of an 

 epileptic nature. 



Post-morten examinations of both calves were made. The 

 bones of No. 355 were very flexible as if insutficient ash were 

 present; the leg bones could he bent comparatively easily while 

 the ribs had a very thin coating of hard material with a sotv 

 core. None of the bones were as rigid as would be expected in 

 an animal of similar age. There was one atrophied kidney (per- 

 haps congenital) with hypertrophy of the other. The mesenteric 

 lymph glands were much enlarged and there was an apparent 

 leucemia. The rumen was of normal size but the walls were 

 evidently atonic, due apparently to a development of lymphoid 

 tissue. The omasum was smaller than would be expected though 



