DISEASES OF CATTLE 215 



ing bone. In the purulent material of the joint B. necrophorus has 

 been found by Mettam and others, who claim that the disease starts 

 in such cases by infection of the umbilicus with the necrosis bacilli. 

 Of course, it is not to be presumed that all cases of joint-ill are 

 caused by this organism, since it has been proved definitely that 

 the pus-producing cocci and the bacillus of white scour may enter 

 the unhealed umbilicus and be carried by the umbilical vein to the 

 liver, where they are thrown into the circulation to become localized 

 in one or more joints. But the very fact that this does not occur 

 in the latter cases presupposes the probability of the same occurrence 

 with B. necrophorus. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are swelling of one or more joints, 

 which are very hot and tender. The calf is stiff and lame, lies 

 down constantly, and cares not to suck. There is very high fever 

 and accelerated breathing and pulse, and there is swelling and puru- 

 lent discharge (often fetid) from the navel. There may be added 

 symptoms of disease of the liver, lungs, heart, or bowels, on which 

 we need not here delay. The important point is to determine 

 the condition of the navel in all such cases of diseased and swollen 

 joints beginning in the first month of life, and in all cases of gen- 

 eral stiffness, for besides the diseases of the internal organs there 

 may be abscesses formed among the muscles of the trunk, though 

 the joints appear sound. Cases of this kind, if they do not speedily 

 die, tend to become emaciated and perish later in a state of weak- 

 ness and exhaustion. 



Prevention. Prevention must begin with the purity of the 

 buildings and the navel, as noted in the last article. 



Treatment. Treatment is in the main antiseptic. The slighter 

 forms may be painted daily with tincture of iodin ; or an ointment 

 of biniodid of mercury (1 dram) and lard (2 ounces) may be 

 rubbed on the affected joints daily until they are blistered. In case 

 of swellings containing matter this may be drawn off through the 

 nozzle of a hypodermic syringe and the following solution injected : 

 Compound tincture of iodine, 1 dram; distilled (or boiled) water, 

 2 ounces. Internally the calf may take 5 grains quinia twice daily 

 and 15 grains hyposulphite of soda, or 20 grains salicylate of soda 

 three times a day. 



UMBILICAL HERNIA (BREACH AT THE NAVEL). 



This may exist at birth from imperfect closure of the muscles 

 around the opening; it may even extend backward for a distance, 

 from the two sides failing to come together. Apart from this, the 

 trouble rarely appears after the calf has been some time on solid 

 food, as the paunch then extends down to the right immediately 

 over the navel, and thus forms an internal pad, preventing the 

 protrusion of intestine. 



Symptoms. The symptoms of umbilical hernia are a soft swell- 

 ing at the navel, with contents that usually gurgle on handling, and 

 can be entirely returned into the abdomen by pressure. The diseases 

 of the navel hitherto considered have not gurgling contents, and 

 can not be completely returned into the abdomen. The only excep- 



