INFECTIOUS DYSENTERY OF CALVES 67 



INFECTIOUS DYSENTERY OF CALVES 



This form of diarrhea in calves is very prevalent in 

 some localities. It differs from sporadic or simple 

 dysentery to that extent that it is very rapidly fatal. 

 It can probably be best described as a hyperacute 

 diarrhea. 



This disease attacks calves very soon after their 

 birth; in some cases it is present at the time of birth. 

 Usually the symptoms set in on the first or second 

 day and the course of the disease is very rapid and 

 the termination fatal in a high percentage of cases. 



Infectious dysentery of calves begins as an ordinary 

 diarrhea, developing in the course of a few hours into 

 a very grave condition. 



The evacuations are at first normal in color; later 

 they become of a pale-grey, or almost white, shade. 

 The odor is intense, and the evacuations are accom- 

 panied by much straining. In spite of the severe 

 tenesmus, the evacuations, which are very thin now, 

 do not spurt outward, but merely run down the but- 

 tocks. This region and the tail are soon very filthy 

 and foul-smelling. At the end of from ten to fifteen 

 hours, convulsions, and, finally, decubitus and death, 

 occur. 



The treatment of this disease has not been very 

 satisfactory in the past. Most cases terminated in 

 death in spite of prompt remedial measures. 



Recently fair results have been reported from ser- 

 ums prepared from horses subjected to the effects of 

 the colon bacillus, and this serum deserves further 

 trial at the hands of practitioners. However, for all 

 purposes in general practice, we must yet consider 

 the handling of this disease almost wholly from a 



