DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 521 



Scouring in Young Calves. — We have above briefly 

 discussed a disorder in calves which arises from indigestion, and 

 may bring on diarrhoea. When calves are being weaned, too, 

 ^ihey are very liable to diarrhoea, and, being weak, are not always 

 able to control and overcome it. Moreover, when a calf is 

 subjected to exposure, extremes of temperature, moisture, want 

 of cleanliness, and so on, especially during the first few days of 

 life, this scouring, and, indeed, many other disorders, are liable 

 to come on. The first milk of the mother, which is called the 

 colostrum, is so constituted as to be capable of removing all the 

 matter which has already accumulated in the digestive canal ; 

 but many persons dispose of this milk. In such cases it may be 

 necessary to administer two ounces of linseed or of castor oil, 

 And then one ounce daily for a few days. Again, the milk of 

 the cow may be deteriorated so that its effect upon the calf may 

 be more or less injurious, and may bring on scouring. Sour 

 milk, or that which has remained too long in the udder, should 

 be scrupulously rejected, and calves should be fed regularly, and 

 most carefully seen after. 



When there are many confined together, calves have a habit of 

 licking one another. Hair-balls are formed in this manner, and 

 hence indigestion and diarrhoea ensue. Foul air, dirty or wet 

 bedding, cold and damp states of the weather, and all mal- 

 hygienic conditions should be especially guarded against in the 

 case of all young animals. Manifestly the cause or causes 

 should be removed, and the food-supply must be carefully 

 attended to. If it is practicable, a calf sufi'ering from diarrhoea 

 should be put to another cow. If it is being reared by hand, 

 great care must be taken that the calf does not feed too quickly, 

 or take in air at the same time. 



It is advisable to give in severe cases one or two fluid drachms 

 of tincture of opium in addition to two fluid ounces of linseed 

 oil. As we said above, alkaline solutions may be useful 

 for softening the hardened masses in the stomach. A good 

 draught for diarrhoea in calves, if it is due to indigestion, 

 may be made of pepsine (twenty grains), of diluted hydrochloric 

 acid (thirty minims), and of sulphate of cinchonine (seven and 

 a half grains), together with a suflBciency of water. This may 

 be given twice or thrice daily in mucilage of starch. If indi- 

 gestion is not suspected, the following may be tried : — Diluted 



