474 JoUKJNAL Ol'' TlIK J)El'AJttTMKM' OF AgRICULTUKE. NoV., 1922. 



Navel III in Foals. 



(Jolesbei'f/ . — Please advise me as to llie hest means of treating' 

 navel ill. 



Grootfontein School of Afji-icidltire replies: Navel ill in foals is 

 caused by organisms wliicli enter the system through the umhilical 

 cord at or soon after birth. It can be prevented by thorough disinfec- 

 tion of foaling boxes or by allowing mares to foal out in the open. 

 Immediately after ])irth the umbilical cord should be ligatured with 

 an aseptic tape, and cut an inch below the tape. The string must 

 be painted with tincture of iodine. 



For curative treatment give two drams of acetone twice daily. 



Sterility in Cows. 



liethuJic. — I have a cow which I cannot get into calf. What is 

 tlie cause of this and what the treatment? 



Grootfontein ScJiool of Afjrirulfiirc replif's: Sterility in cows 

 might result from several causes, such as malformation of tlie womb, 

 disease of the ovaries, metritis, vaginitis, contagious aboition, etc. 

 If you cannot get a veterinary surgeon to examine her, you might 

 try the following: — Syringe her out daily for a week before service 

 with a sohition of potassium permanganate, and then about an houi- 

 before slie is served syringe again with a solution of bicaibonate of 



" Cape Aloes " as a Tonic for Stock. 



Cradock. — Would " ('aj)e aloes " serve as a tonic for stock?' If 

 so, how is it used and mixed, and what aie the doses for cattle and 

 small stock? 



Tlie Director of Veteri/iartj Education and Researcli replies: — 

 " Cape aloes " as sold for veterinary use consists of the dried juice 

 drained from the cut ends of the leaves of various species of South 

 African aloes. When administered in fairly large doses, it has a 

 laxative or purgative effect in animals, and is commonly used for this 

 purpose in the horse, the doses being 3 to 4 drachms^ given in the 

 form of a ball. Before treatment, the horse should be starved or 

 kept on soft diet for about 12 bonis, and not worked for a few days 

 afterwards. The drug is rarely used as a purgative in ruminants 

 because of its uncertain and unreliable action in this class of animal. 



Aloes is (^uite a good tonic for all animals when administered in 

 very small doses, but owing to its nauseous bitter taste, is not readily 

 taken by stock, no matter what mixture is employed to obscure this 

 objectionable taste. The only way in which it can be given, there- 

 fore, is by forcible drenching. This method necessarily involves 

 rough treatment of the animals and mitigates against its usefulness 

 for this purpose. If it is desired to employ aloes for its tonic effect, 

 it can be given to horses and cat lie in doses of \ to 1 drachm, and to 

 sheep in corresponding smallei- doses, namely, 10 to 15 grains. 



