DISEASES OF CALVES. SCOURS. 291 



But DIARRHCEA, PURGING, or SCOURS, is the most dan- 

 gerous complaint with which calves are afflicted. This 

 is caused often by neglect, or exposure to wet and cold, 

 or insufficiency of food at one time and over-feeding at 

 another. Stinting the calf in food or attention will often 

 involve the loss of considerable profit on the cow for 

 the year. When purging is once fully seated from 

 several days' neglect, it is often difficult to remove it. 



The acidity on the stomach which always attends it 

 must first be removed. A mild purgative medicine may 

 be given. Rhubarb and magnesia is a very convenient 

 article, and may easily be given in ounce doses along 

 with the milk. Potash is also to be given in quarter- 

 ounce doses in the same way. Two ounces of castor- 

 oil, or two ounces of Epsom salts, might be given with 

 the desired effect. After this, mild astringents may be 

 given. Take prepared chalk two drachms, or magnesia 

 one ounce, powdered opium ten grains, powdered cate- 

 chu half a drachm, tincture of capsicum two drachms, 

 essence of peppermint five drops. Mix together, and 

 give twice a day in the milk or gruel. 



After giving the above repeatedly without effect, 

 which will rarely happen, take Dover's powders two 

 scruples, starch or arrow-root powdered one ounce, 

 cinnamon powder one drachm, and powdered kino 

 half a drachm. Boil the starch or arrow-root in water 

 till it thickens, and when cold stir in the other ingre- 

 dients. Give night and morning. This complaint is 

 often attended by inflammation of the bowels and 

 general fever. 



It is a good plan to keep a lump of chalk constantly 

 before calves after they are two or three weeks old. 

 It corrects acidity on the stomach, and is otherwise 

 useful to them. 



CONSTIPATION or COSTIVENESS sometimes attacks calves 



