SYMPTOMS 219 



pression, weakness, and disinclination to suck. When the dis- 

 ease is due to improper diet or exposure, symptoms of chilling 

 followed by fever will be noticed. The body temperature is 

 unevenly distributed, the legs being cold and the muzzle dry. 

 The diarrhea which soon sets in consists of rather pasty 

 manure of normal color and odor, at first, but rapidly becomes 

 watery and is light gray in color accompanied by a peculiarly 

 characteristic and offensive odor. As the disease advances, the 

 passages become numerous, and the tail and legs become stained 

 with the dung which clings to the hair and skin. The dung 

 will be frequently passed in the form of a jet or liquid stream. 

 Bloating is commonly noticed; and colicky symptoms are not 

 rare. Toward the end, the animal stands with its back arched. 

 The skin becomes dry and the odor given off by the various 

 channels is very offensive, and the animal becomes weak and 

 listless. During the later stages the dung at times becomes 

 streaked with blood. The course of the disease may be acute 

 or chronic. The affected animal may die within a few days or 

 may live for several weeks. When death occurs, it is usually due 

 to exhaustion and lung complications (pneumonia). 



Prevention. — When diarrhea occurs in the suckling, the 

 treatment should be mainly applied to the mother. The cow 

 should be supplied with a proper diet and all factors which un- 

 favorably influence the quality of the milk should be removed. 

 In case the mother is suffering from disease, the calf should 

 be permitted to suckle a healthy cow. When diarrhea is due 

 to improper feeding, the error should be corrected immediately. 

 Hygienic measures such as proper light, ventilation and clean- 

 liness applied to calf pens, tend to keep the calf in good health 

 and prevent disease. Exercise is also of much importance. 

 Calves fed from pails are in danger of developing scours, unless 

 absolute cleanliness is maintained. The feeder has to be on 

 the alert also so as to prevent greedy calves from drinking an 

 over-amount of milk. 



Treatment. — The early administrations of laxatives are in- 

 dicated in order to remove irritating substances from the bowels. 

 For this purpose, castor oil in one or two-ounce doses is recom- 



