26 WHITE SCOURS IN CALVES 



examination. The umbilical vein, from the umbilicus to the liver, was 

 distended with blood, pus cells and bacteria. All the internal organs 

 appeared to be normal. In both knee joints^and in one hock joint there 

 was extensive suppuration. A bacteriological examination showed the 

 umbilical vein to contain many species of bacteria, among which may be 

 mentioned B. coli cotn»iunis, Micrococcus pyogenes aureus and a strep- 

 tococcus. One of several tubes of media inoculated from the liver de- 

 veloped the streptococcus, the others remained clear. All media inocu- 

 lated from the heart blood, spleen, kidney and glands remained sterile. 

 All of the media inoculated with the pus from the diseased joints gave 

 pure cultures of the streptococcus. 



The treatment in these cases is limited to the prevention. 

 The proper disinfection and dressing of the umbilicus at the 

 time it is severed prevent this trouble. It is the only pre- 

 ventative measure known to us. 



II r. 



§ 14. White scours or diarrhea in calves. This is 

 a disease affecting calves from a few hours to as many days 

 old, with a mortality ranging from 50 to 90 per cent. The in- 

 vestigations which have been made in this country, especially 

 those at the New York State Veterinary College, have sug- 

 gested that it is due to certain forms of the colon bacillus. In 

 these investigations characteristic lesions were not found. 



Nocard reported the results of his investigation of appar- 

 ently a similar disease of calves in Ireland. He found that 

 they usually die during the first week. In the more chronic 

 cases, lung lesions were found. His inquiries tend to show 

 that this is primarily due to a wound infection. He states in 

 his report concerning the nature of this disease that it usually 

 lasts from 3 to 6 days and is characterized by an intense intes- 

 tinal discharge. The discharges are always of the nature of a 

 diarrhea, white and frothy. The calves lose flesh rapidly, 

 their flanks are hollow, abdomen retracted, back arched, eyes 

 sunken, and hair dull ; they make violent expulsive efforts, 

 the nose is hot and dry with slight discharge of mucus, and 

 the temperature is elevated. 



In other cases, but not so commonly, the symptoms are 



