Congenital Infections of Calves 669 



the calf (as in the cow) can be attacked directly. In prin- 

 ciple each calf at the time of its birth should be regarded as 

 possibly carrying bacteria included in its meconium which 

 constitute a peril to its life and health. This peril is largely 

 avoidable and should be anticipated. The chief obstacle to 

 the adoption of measures to forestall the development of the 

 included bacteria into an active and perilous infection is the 

 apparently good or perfect health of the calf. To the lay- 

 man and to many veterinarians it appears imprudent to 

 undertake the handling of an apparently healthy calf to pre- 

 vent serious or mortal illness from included bacteria which 

 reveal no signs of their presence. There are at present no 

 known means which can be practically applied by which the 

 breeder or veterinarian can distinguish between the new- 

 born calf which does, and that which does not carry in its 

 digestive tract dangerous bacteria. Choice must therefore 

 be made between two opposing policies : the assumption that 

 the calf carries dangerous bacteria in its gastro-intestinal 

 tract, the development of which shall be forestalled, and the 

 contrary assumption that the apparently healthy calf does 

 not carry dangerous bacteria, with the postponement of ac- 

 tion until after the storm breaks. I favor emphatically the 

 first assumption. The veterinarian is concerned chiefly with 

 purebred or high grade calves, because these constitute the 

 basis of the best herds and the source of supply for breed- 

 ing stock in the improvement of common cattle. The pure- 

 bred calves are the most intensely infected and should be 

 most vigorously handled. 



Ordinarily the calves of dairy cows are fed by hand either 

 from birth or after a very few days. I favor taking the 

 calf immediately from the cow without permitting the dam 

 to lick it. By this method there is a total absence of worry 

 over the parting by either mother or young, the calf is more 

 readily taught to feed, and the amount of food and intervals 

 between feedings are under control at the most crtical time. 

 The calf should be removed to an isolated, clean, comforta- 

 ble stall, and rubbed dry. Post-natal infection through the 

 umbilic wound should be guarded against by permitting the 



