Congenital Infections of Calves 685 



feces, or other signs betoken the approaching storm, all 

 food should be withdrawn. Most persons temporize by re- 

 ducing the ration. That is not enough. The small ration is 

 of no value whatever to the calf. Instead, the food is broken 

 up by the bacteria, producing toxic substances which in- 

 jure the calf. It is almost impossible to have some persons 

 understand that milk is food only when digested by the 

 physiologic ferments and that it is just as imprudent to 

 feed fresh, clean milk to a calf, when it will undergo bac- 

 terial decomposition in the stomach, as it would be to inoc- 

 ulate the milk with the same bacteria, incubate it until 

 thoroughly and repulsively decomposed, and then compel the 

 calf to drink it. 



The calf should receive immediately large and repeated 

 doses of calf scours serum. There is no limit to the amount 

 which may be given. It is best as a rule to give 30 to 50 

 mils at a dose, and this may be repeated in two or three 

 hours as long as desired. It is best and most economic to 

 meet the violent onset of the disease with vigorous opposi- 

 tion rather than to temporize with small or infrequent doses. 

 It is safer for the calf and more economical to control the 

 onset of the disease quickly. If the disease is controllable, 

 it can be overcome within two to six hours, if the dosage 

 is sufficiently liberal, and the total volume of serum required 

 will be less than if used in smaller doses over a period of 

 twelve to twenty-four hours. Calf scours serum generally 

 appears to act specifically, and, when administered in time 

 and in sufficient volume, gives highly favorable results. The 

 calf, even when lying prostrate upon its side, unconscious, 

 its temperature subnormal, and fetid watery feces dribbling 

 away involuntarily, often responds at once and may be on its 

 feet and well advanced toward recovery within two to four 

 hours. When severe arthritis is present, heavy dosage may 

 cause the articular pain and swelling to disappear almost 

 wholly in a few hours. There are numerous exceptions. 

 When the disease is not taken in hand until far advanced, 

 the mortality is unavoidably high. In some outbreaks the 

 disease appears uncontrollable with serum or other known 



