DISEASES OF CATTLE 217 



from the liver, which must be expelled before they can start their 

 functions normally. The first milk of the cow (colostrum, beest- 

 ings), rich in albumen and salts, is nature's laxative to expel this 

 now offensive material and should never be withheld from the calf. 

 If, for lack of this, from the dry feeding of the cow, or from any 

 other cause, the calf is costive, straining violently without passage, 

 lying down and rising as in colic, and failing in appetite, no time 

 should be lost in giving relief by an ounce dose of castor oil, assist- 

 ing its action by injections of soapsuds or oil. Whatever meco- 

 nium is within reach of the finger should be carefully removed. It 

 is also important to give the cow a sloppy, laxative diet. 



Indigestion. This may occur from many different causes, as 

 costiveness ; a too liberal supply of milk ; milk too rich ; the furnish- 

 ing of the milk of a cow long after calving to a very young calf; 

 allowing a calf to suck the first milk of a cow that has been hunted, 

 driven by road, shipped by rail, or otherwise violently excited; al- 

 lowing the calf too long time between meals, so that impelled by 

 hunger it quickly overloads and clogs the stomach; feeding from 

 the pail milk that has been held over in unwashed (unscalded) 

 buckets, so that it is fermented and spoiled; feeding the milk of 

 cows kept on unwholesome food ; keeping the calves in cold, damp, 

 dark, filthy, or bad-smelling pens; feeding the calves on artificial 

 mixtures containing too much starchy matter; or overfeeding the 

 calves on artificial food that may be appropriate enough in smaller 

 amount. The licking of hair from themselves or others and its 

 formation into balls in the stomach will cause obstinate indigestion 

 in the calf. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are dullness, indisposition to move, 

 uneasiness, eructations of gas from the stomach, sour breath, entire 

 loss of appetite, lying down and rising as if in pain, fullness of the 

 abdomen, which gives out a drumlike sound when tapped with the 

 fingers. The costiveness may be marked at first, but soon it gives 

 place to diarrhea, by which the offensive matters may be carried 

 off and health restored. In other cases it becomes ^ aggravated, 

 merges into inflammation of the bowels, fever sets in, and the 

 calf gradually sinks. 



Prevention. Prevention consists in avoiding the causes above 

 enumerated or any others that may be detected. 



Treatment. Treatment consists in first clearing away the irri- 

 tant present in the bowels. For this purpose 1 or 2 ounces of castor 

 oil with 20 drops of laudanum may be given, and if the sour eructa- 

 tions are marked a tablespoon ful of limewater or one-fourth ounce 

 calcined magnesia may be given and repeated two or three times a 

 day. If the disorder continues after the removal of the irritant, a 

 large tablespoonful of rennet, or 30 grains of pepsin, may be given 

 at each meal along with a teaspoonful of tincture of gentian. Any 

 return of constipation must be treated by injections of warm water 

 and soap, while the persistence of diarrhea must be met as advised 

 under the article following this. In case of the formation of loose 

 hair balls inclosing milk undergoing putrid fermentation tempo- 



