ENZOOTIC DYSENTERY 59 



As far as our observations go, one attack confers 

 immunity; the disease has not appeared on the same 

 farm twice in our experience. 



A poorly nourished cow, should she happen to be 

 attacked by this disease in a severe form, may not 

 survive. Otherwise recovery is the rule. The disease 

 is therefore important chiefly because of the resulting 

 shrinkage in the milk output. 



The treatment of enzootic dysentery should begin 

 as soon after the disease is recognized as possible, and 

 every bovine on the farm should be treated from the 

 first. Almost invariably all cows are affected, once 

 the disease enters a herd, and the veterinarian who has 

 had experience with this disease knows that although 

 he may not be able to check the outbreak abruptly, 

 he can lessen the severity of the attack by early treat- 

 ment. Cows treated before they develop symptoms of 

 the disease are affected in a very mild form, and re- 

 cover in a few days. If the animals are treated only 

 as they develop the disease, one after another, the 

 attack in a herd is prolonged unnecessarily. 



We have had the best results in the treatment of 

 this disease from an oily preparation consisting of 

 beechwood creosote, twenty drops; oil of cajuput, half 

 an ounce; cottonseed oil, two ounces; this size dose is 

 given four times daily until the diarrhea stops. If the 

 case is an exceptionally severe one we may give one 

 or two doses of opium to control the scours at first; 

 this is rarely necessary with the above treatment. 



We pay little attention to the feed; in most cases 

 the animals will not eat anything. Water should be 

 given in very small quantities, but at frequent inter- 

 vals. If the cattle are watered at a tank they usually 

 drink to excess. 



