FEEDING CALVES 45 



calf may lick that board until poisoning results. Most dairymen 

 will, on thinking the matter over, realize that their calves may at 

 times have a chance to lick a painted board or wall. The thing 

 that they must also realize is that, though unobserved, a calf may 

 be getting just a little lead into its system day by day, — an amount 

 too small to cause any noticeable trouble except as it piles up and 

 finally kills the animal. 



The symptoms of lead poisoning, particularly in the cumulative 

 variety, are variable. Convulsions and paralysis are frequent. 

 Curative measures sometimes avail if applied sufficiently promptly, 

 particularly in cases of acute poisoning. It is a case for a veterina- 

 rian. About the only thing the owner can do is to give a physic in 

 an endeavor to get the poison out of the system. 



80. Prevention. — The remedy for lead poisoning is prevention 

 rather than cure. If the dairyman will simply realize that it is 

 natural for a calf to lick anything and everything, and that if 

 there is any paint anywhere, no matter how old or how dry, the 

 calf may gradually get enough to be poisoned, it will not be 

 difficult for him to guard against the losses from this source. It 

 is not necessary to paint the interior of the barn to make it look 

 clean; whitewash will do as well and it is harmless. Or, if a man 

 insists on paint, he can get one that contains no lead. 



