DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE OEGANS. 33 



milk. This medicated milk should be fed to the calf in the usual 

 quantity. When the diarrhea is not controlled in three or four days 

 by this treatment, the additional use of some of the agents recom- 

 mended above may assist in a recovery. 



INFECTIOUS DIARRHEA; WHITE SCOUR. 



[See chapter on Diseases of young calves, p. 247.] 

 GASTROENTERITIS. 



This consists of an inflammation of the walls of the stomachs and 

 of the bowel. 



Gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the walls of the stomachs and 

 intestines, follows upon irritations more severe or longer continued 

 than those that produce gastrointestinal catarrh. 



Causes. — Severe indigestion may be followed by gastroenteritis, or 

 it may be caused by swallowing irritant poisons, such as arsenic or 

 corrosive sublimate or irritant plants. Exposure to cold or inclement 

 Aveather may produce the disease, especially in debilitated animals 

 or animals fed improperl3^ It is asserted that if cattle feed on vege- 

 tation infested with some kinds of caterpillars this disease may result. 



Symptoms. — Dullness; drooping of the ears; dryness of the muz- 

 zle ; dry skin ; staring coat ; loins morbidly sensitive to pressure : full- 

 ness of the left flank, which is caused by the distention of the fourth 

 stomach by gas. The pulse is small, the gait is feeble and staggering; 

 each step taken is accompanied with a grunt, and this symptom is 

 especially marked if the animal walks in a downw^ard direction. 

 There is loss of appetite, and rumination is suspended. The passages 

 at first are few in number, hard, and are sometimes coated with 

 mucus or with blood. Later a severe diarrhea sets in, when the pas- 

 sages contain mucus and blood and have an offensive odor. There is 

 evidence of coliclcy pain, and the abdomen is sensitive to pressure. 

 Pain may be continuous. There is fever and acceleration of pulse 

 rate and respirations. ]Mental depression and even insensibility occur 

 before death. The disease is alwa3^s severe and often fatal. 



Post-mortem appearances. — The mucous membrane of the fourth 

 stomach has a well-marked red color and sometimes presents ulcera- 

 tions. The wall is thickened and softened, and similar conditions 

 are found in the walls of the intestines. The red discoloration ex- 

 tends in spots or large areas quite through the wall, showing on the 

 outside. 



Treatment. — Very small quantities of carefully selected feed must 

 be given and the appetite must not be forced. Protect the animal 

 well from cold and dampness. Internally, give linseed tea, boiled 

 milk, boiled oatmeal gruel, or rice water. These protectives may 

 carry the medicine. Tannopin in doses of 30 to 60 grains is good. 

 54793°— 2.3 3 



