126 



Biological Therapy 



terial, or by the hands or clothes of unclean attendants. 



A very common and direct route for infection of the 

 suckling calf is from the udder of the mother which becomes 

 contaminated by contact with bedding material or by vaginal 

 or rectal discharges. The umbilicus is a common source of 

 infection for many animals, while the possibility of intra- 

 uterine infection is always present. 



Undoubtedly the latter is one of the most important 

 considerations in this disease since in cases where intra- 

 uterine infection occurs, calves are born harboring enormous 

 numbers of B. coli. That the disease may be of intra-uterine 

 origin was shown by Kitt, who administered an intravenous 

 injection of B. coli to a cow advanced in pregnancy. The 

 calf born eight days later showed profuse diarrhea from 

 birth and died of calf scour. Many other investigators have 

 isolated virulent B. coli capable of reproducing calf scour 

 from various parts of the body immediately after birth, while 

 others have proven the presence of the same organisms in 

 the chorium before birth. 



SYMPTOMS. In badly infected herds symptoms fre- 

 quently appear during the first or second day, occasionally 

 in a few hours after birth. In other herds symptoms do not 

 appear until the animals are three or four days old. The 

 affected animals are greatly depressed, develop a high tem- 

 perature, cease suckling and show a decided tendency to lie 

 down. A profuse fetid diarrhea appears. As the disease 

 progresses, the eyes become very dull. The tongue becomes 

 dry and later is covered with mucus, while the animal shows 

 a profuse salivation. There is a striking, penetrating sweet- 

 ish odor from the skin and feces. Respiration becomes 

 greatly accelerated and the animal finally becomes comatose 

 followed by death. In the animals which live, pneumonia 

 frequently develops while infiammation of the joints is a 

 common sequel. 



PREVENTION AND SANITATION. This is of the ut- 

 most importance. Stables must be kept clean and all the 

 sunshine possible should be obtained. Regular disinfection 

 of the entire stable is a valuable asset. Stalls occupied by 

 pregnant animals should be regularly cleaned and disin- 

 fected. All contaminated bedding should be promptly dis- 

 posed of after being thoroughly disinfected. Three or four 

 days before gestation, pregnant animals should be removed 

 to special quarters provided for that purpose. Just previous 



