216 The Diseases of Animals 



be milked often enough to relieve the pressure and to 

 prevent inflammation. When it is desired to "dry off" 

 the dam, the udder should not be milked dry. 



The greatest objection to patent feeding devices in 

 which milk is used as food for young animals is the 

 difficulty in keeping them clean and sweet. In weaning 

 calves it is generally preferable to teach them .to drink 

 "by hand." 



PYEMIA, OR "JOINT ILL," IN COLTS 



Pyemia is a disease of young colts due to infection 

 by pus -producing bacteria. The disease usually occurs 

 within two or three weeks after the colt is foaled. 

 In the early stages of the disease the symptoms are 

 the collecting of pus in the pockets or swellings, and 

 usually some swelling of the joints in the affected 

 region, with stiffness and difficult locomotion. If the 

 pockets are not opened, the pus often burrows along 

 the tendons and in the loose tissue about the joints, 

 until it finally breaks and discharges as a thin yellow 

 fluid from pockets that spread and ramify in various 

 directions. The source of infection is usually a wound 

 of some kind, in most cases probably the navel. When 

 this disease is neglected the colt becomes dull, loses 

 appetite, lies in the sun, grows weak, and finally dies. 



All cavities containing pus should be opened freely, 

 washed out with warm water, and treated with a solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate (one part to one thousand 

 parts of water). A solution of one part of peroxid 

 of hydrogen in two parts of water is excellent. A 



