DISEASES OF YOUNG CALVES. 271 



PY^EMIC AND SEPTIC^EXIC INFLAMMATION OF JOINTS IN CALVES. 



JOINT-ILL. 



This occurs in young calves within the first months after birth; it 

 persists in the joints when once attacked, and is usually connected with 

 disease of the navel. Rheumatism, on the other hand, rarely occurs in 

 a calf under a month old. It tends to shift from joint to joint and is 

 independent of any iiavel disease. Rheumatism, again, affects the fibrous 

 structures of the joints, and rarely results in the formation of white 

 matter, while the affection before named attacks the structures outside 

 as well as inside the joints and above all the ends of the bones, and 

 tends to the destruction and crumbling of their tissue, and even to the 

 formation of open sores through which the fragile bones are exposed. 

 The microbes from the unhealthy and infected wound in the navel pass 

 into the system through the veins, or, in the case of the erysipelas germ, 

 through the lymphatics, and form colonies and local inflammations and 

 abscesses in and around the joints. 



The symptoms are swelling of one or more joints, which are very hot and 

 tender. The calf is stiff and lame, lies down constantly, and cares not 

 to suck. There is very high fever and accelerated breathing and pulse, 

 and there is swelling and purulent discharge (often fetid) from the navel. 

 There may be added symptoms of disease of the liver, lungs, heart, or 

 bowels, on which we need not here delay. The important point is to 

 determine the condition of the navel in all such cases of diseased and 

 swollen joints beginning in the first month of life, and in all cases of 

 general stiffness, for beside the diseases of the internal organs there 

 may be abscesses formed among the muscles of the trunk, though the 

 joints appear sound. Cases of this kind, if they do not speedily die, 

 tend to become emaciated and perish later in a state of weakness and 

 exhaustion. 



Prevention must begin with the pifrity of the buildings and the navel, 

 as noted in the last article. 



Treatment is in the main antiseptic. The slighter forms may be 

 painted daily with tincture of iodine; or an ointment of biniodide of 

 mercury (1 dram) and lard (2 ounces) may be rubbed on the affected joints 

 daily until they are blistered. In case of swellings containing matter 

 this may l>e drawn off through the nozzle of a hyiMMlennic syringe and 

 the following solution injected: Compound tincture of iodine, 1 dram; 

 distilled (or boiled) water, 2 ounces. Internally the calf may take 5 

 grains quinia twice daily and 15 grains hyi>osulphite of soda, or 20 

 grains salicylate of soda three times a day. 



UMBILICAL IIKBMA BHKACH AT THE NAVEL. 



This may exist at birth from imperfect closure of the muscles around 

 the opening; it may even extend backward for a distance from two 

 sides failing to come together. Apart from this the trouble rarely 



