DISEASES OF YOUNG CALVES. 



By James Law, F. R. C. V. S., 

 Formerly Professor of Veterinary Science, etc., in Cornell University. 



SUSPENDED BREATHING. 



The moment the circulation through the naval string is stopped 

 the blood of the calf begins to become overcharged with carbon dioxid 

 (CO,), and unless breathing is speedily established death promptly 

 follows. Fortunately the desire to breathe, roused by the circulation 

 of the venous blood and the reflex action from the wet and chilling 

 skin, usually starts the contractions of the diaphragm at once and 

 life is insured. Among the obstacles to breathing may be named 

 suffocation before or during birth from compression of the navel 

 cord and the arrest of its circulation; the detachment of the fetal 

 membranes from the womb before the calf is born; a too free com- 

 munication between the two auricles (foramen ovale) of the heart 

 by which the nonaerated blood has mixed too abundantly with the 

 aerated and induced debility and profound weakness; a condition of 

 ill health and debility of the calf as a result of semistarvation, over- 

 work, or disease of the cow; fainting in the debilitated calf when 

 calving has been difficult and prolonged; the birth of the calf w^ith 

 its head enveloped in the fetal membranes, so that it has been unable 

 to breathe, and the presence of tenacious phlegm in the mouth and 

 nose, acting in the same manner. 



Besides the importance of proper care and feeding of the cow as 

 a preventive measure, attention should be given at once to relieve the 

 newborn calf of its investing membrane and of any mucus that has 

 collected in mouth or nostrils. Wiping out the nose deeply with a 

 finger or feather excites to sneezing, hence to breathing. Blowing 

 into the nose has a similar effect. Sucking the nostril through a tube 

 applied to it is even more effective. Slapping the chest with the palm 

 of the hand or with a towel dipped in cold water, compression and 

 relaxation alternately of the walls of the chest, may start the action, 

 and ammonia or even tobacco smoke blown into the nose may suffice. 

 Every second is precious, however, and if possible the lungs should 

 be dilated by forcibly introducing air from a bellows or from the 

 human lungs. As the air is blown in through bellows or a tube the 

 upper end of the windpipe must be pressed back against the gullet, 

 as otherwise the air will go to the stomach. In a large dairy a piece 



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