DISEASES OF YOUNG CALVES. 249 



of the vein should be swabbed out with a probe wrapped around 

 with cotton wool and dipped in boracic salicylic acid. 



If complications have extended to the liver or other internal 

 organs, or the joints, other treatment will be demanded. In acute 

 cases of general infection an early fatal result is to be expected. 



PYEMIC AND SEPTICEMIC INFLAMMATION OF JOINTS IN CALVES 



(JOINT ILL). 



This occurs in young calves within the first month 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 navel disease. Again, it affects the 

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

 of white matter, while the affection before named attacks the struc- 

 tures 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 lymphatics, and form colonies and local inflammations and ab- 

 scesses in and around the joints. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are the swelling of one or more joints, 

 which are very hot and tender. The calf is stiff and lame, lies down 

 constantly, and does not care to suck. There is very high fever, 

 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 besides 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. — Prevention must begin with the purity of the build- 

 ings and the navel, as noted in the last article. 



Treatment, — Treatment is in the main antiseptic. The slighter 

 forms may be painted daily with tincture of iodin, or an ointment of 

 biniodid 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 be drawn through the nozzle of a hypo- 

 dermic syringe and the following solution injected : Compound tinc- 

 ture of iodin, 1 dram; distilled (or boiled) water, 2 ounces. Inter- 



