274 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



cases it becomes aggravated, merges into inflammation of the bowcls y 

 fever sets in and the calf gradually sinks. 



Prevention consists in avoiding the causes above enumerated, or any 

 others that may be detected. 



Treatment consists in first clearing away the irritant present in the 

 bowels. For this purpose one or two ounces of castor oil with 20 drops 

 of laudanum may be given, and if the sour eructations are marked a 

 tablespoonful of lime-water or one-fourth ounce calcined magnesia may 

 be given and repeated two or three times a day. If the disorder con- 

 tinues after the removal of the irritant a large tablespoonful of rennet, 

 or 30 grains of pepsin, may be given at each meal along with a tea- 

 spoonful of tincture of gentian. Any return of constipation must be 

 treated by injections of warm water and soap, while the persistence of 

 diarrhea must be met as advised under the article following this. In 

 case of the formation of loose hair-balls inclosing milk undergoing 

 putrid fermentation temporary benefit may be obtained by giving a 

 tablespoonful of vegetable charcoal three or four times a day, but the 

 only real remedy for thase is to cut open the paunch and extract them. 

 At this early age they may be found in the third or even the fourth 

 stomach j in the adult they are confined to the first two, and are com- 

 paratively harmless. 



DIARRHEA (SCOURING) IN CALVES SIMPLE AND CONTAGIOUS. 



As stated in the last article, scouring is a common result of indiges- 

 tion, and at first may be nothing more than an attempt of nature to 

 relieve the stomach and bowels of offensive and irritating contents. As 

 the indigestion persists, however, the fermentations going on in the 

 undigested masses become steadily more complex and active, and what 

 was at first the mere result of irritation or suspended digestion comes to 

 be a genuine contagious disease, in which the organized ferments (bacte- 

 ria) propagate the affection from animal to animal and from herd to herd. 

 More than once I have seen such epizootic diarrhea starting on the 

 head waters of a creek, and traveling along that stream follow the water- 

 shed and attacking the herds supplied with water from the contamin- 

 ated channel. In the same way, the disease once started in a cow stable, 

 is liable to persist for years, or until the building has been thoroughly 

 cleansed and disinfected. It may be carried into a healthy stable by 

 the introduction of a cow brought from an infected stable when she is 

 closely approaching calving. Another method of its introduction is by 

 the purchase of a calf from a herd where the infection exists. 



In enumerating the other causes of this disease we may refer to those 

 noted above as inducing indigestion. As a primary consideration any 

 condition which lowers the vitality or vigor of the calf must be accorded 

 a prominent place among factors which, apart from contagion, contrib- 

 ute to start the disease de noro. Other things being equal, the strong, 

 vigorous races are the least predisposed to the malady, and in this 



