732 DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES, 



•birth, though at times it may also be caused by the young creatures, when 

 two or more are together, sucking and pulling at the remains of the 

 umbilical cord. It may also be due to chronic inflammation of this part, 

 or the formation of abscess in the umbilical ring. 



The accident is readily recognized ; the swelling is often very consid- 

 erable, and always cold to the touch. It often persists a long time in 

 bovine animals ; and Zundel says that it then constitutes a grave defect 

 in young bulls, which it mechanically prevents from copulating. When 

 due to sclerosis of the connective tissue, it is usually persistent. 



Treatment. 



Cold applications and compresses have been recommended in the way 

 of treatment, as well as lotions of arnica, camphorated spirits of wine, 

 preparations of iodine, mercury, etc. These often fail, however, and it 

 is generally better to resort to scarifications or leeches at once, to be 

 succeeded by hot water fomentations. When the swelling is chronic, and 

 due to a blood clot, which is sometimes the case, Baumeister recom- 

 mends enucleation. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Inflammation of the Umbilical Cord. 



Inflammation of the umbilicus, or o?tiphalitis (the so-called " navel-ilV of 

 shepherds), is a serious accident, and often terminates fatally. It con- 

 sists essentially in inflammation of the umbilical vein, which sooner or 

 later involves the adjoining tissues, and is often followed by suppuration 

 and pyaemia, which causes the death of the young creature. It is rare 

 indeed that the inflammation remains of a simple kind throughout its 

 course. As a rule, it is not merely an omphalo-phlebitis, but involves 

 the abdominal portion of the umbilical vein. There is a thrombus, which 

 soon suppurates ; a fistula appears at the umbilicus, the umbilical vein is 

 inflamed as far as the liver, to which the thrombosis extends, and the 

 portal and hepatic veins may even be affected. As a consequence, the 

 most serious accidents may arise. Embolic infarction of the lungs, liver, 

 or other organs is likely to occur, with gangrene, septikaemia or pyaemia. 



Symptoms, 



The inflammation commences soon after birth. The remains of the 

 umbilical cord, in the normal condition, quickly dries up and withers, as 

 it were, within a few days after the creature is born. When inflamed, 

 however, -the part appears to be moist, and projects from the abdomen 

 as an enlarged, compact, and hard mass, from the centre of which flows 

 a small quantity of thin, unhealthy, purulent-looking fluid that soils the 

 surrounding skin. The peculiar tap-like appearance of the umbilical cord, 

 its density and high tenaperature, with the discharge therefrom, will lead 

 the careful observer to recognize the existence of omphalitis. 



A probe can bfe readily passed into the umbilical vein, which remains 

 patent to a considerable extent. The local symptoms are often over- 

 looked at the commencement, and the first general signs of omphalitis 

 observed are usually dulness, arched back, indifference to the teat and 



