714 DISEASES AXD ABNORMALITIES OF THE YOUXG AXIMAL. 



defect in young Bulls, which it mechanically prevents from copulating. 

 When due to sclerosis of the connective tissue, it is usually persistent. 



Treatment. 



Cold applications and compresses have been recommended in the way 

 of treatment, as well as lotions of arnica, camphorated spirits of wine, 

 preparations of iodine, mercury, etc. These often fail, however, and it 

 is generally better to resort to scarifications or leeches at once, to be 

 succeeded by hot water fomentations. When the swelling is chronic 

 and due to a blood clot, which is sometimes the case, Baumeister 

 recommends enucleation. 



CHAPTEE YI. 



Inflammation of the Umbilical Cord. 



Inflamjiatiox of the umbilicus, or omphalitis (the so-called " navcl-iU" 

 of shepherds), is a serious accident, and often terminates fatally. It 

 consists essentially in inflammation of the umbilical vein, which sooner 

 or later involves the adjoining tissues, and is often followed by suppura- 

 tion and pytemia, which causes the death of the young creature. It is 

 rare indeed that the inflammation remains of a simple kind throughout 

 its course. As a rule, it is not merely an omphalo-phlebitis, but involves 

 the abdominal portion of the umbilical vein. There is a thrombus, 

 which soon suppurates ; a fistula appears at the umbilicus, the umbilical 

 vein is inflamed as far as the liver, to which the thrombosis extends, 

 and the portal and hepatic veins may even be affected. As a conse- 

 quence, the most serious accidents may arise. Embolic infarction of 

 the lungs, liver, or other organs is likely to occur, with gangrene, septi- 

 caemia or pyaemia. 



Symj^tojns. 



The inflammation commences soon after birth. The remains of the 

 umbilical cord, in the normal condition, quickly dries up and withers, 

 as it were, within a few days after the creature is born. When inflamed, 

 however, the part appears to be moist, and projects from the abdomen 

 as an enlarged, compact, and hard mass, from the centre of which flows 

 a small quantity of thin, unhealthy, purulent-looking fluid that soils the 

 surrounding skin. The peculiar tap-like appearance of the umbilical 

 cord, its density and high temperature, with the discharge therefrom, 

 will lead the careful observer to recognise the existence of omphalitis. 



A probe can be readily passed into the umbilical vein, which remains 

 patent to a considerable extent. The local symptoms are often over- 

 looked at the commencement, and the first general signs of omphalitis 

 observed are usually dulness, arched back, indifference to the teat and 

 to surrounding objects, persistent recumbency, fever, and hurried pant- 

 ing respiration when general infection takes place, and embolism of the 

 lungs is occurring. As the malady progresses, great prostration is 

 manifest ; there is swelling at the umbilicus, and intense pain on 

 manipulation of that region : the eyes are dull and injected, the mouth 

 very hot and dry ; the pulse is so small and quick as to be scarcely 

 perceptible ; the bowels may be constipated and the faeces scanty, or 

 obstinate diarrhoea may supervene ; the urine is greatly diminished in 

 quantity ; the mucous membranes frequently assume a yellowish tint ; 



