FATAL ENZOOTICS OF CALVES 375 



The cultures and their pathogenic effects simulate strongly 

 the bacteria of rabbit septicaemia (Gaffky), septicaemia hemor- 

 rhagica and swine plague. 



The bacteria of septic pleuropneumonia may enter through 

 the diseased digestive canal and through the umbilicus (as well 

 at the time of birth, when the umbilical vessels tear, as in 

 omphalitis). 



Poels also states that these micro-organisms may live 

 some time in the umbilical vessels. When the thrombus in 

 these vessels undergoes putrefaction, the danger of a general 

 infection becomes marked. In these cases it may happen that 

 nothing abnormal is noticeable in the umbilicus. 



Infection may also take place through the organs of 

 respiration and excoriations of the skin. 



Prophylaxis. — Poels recommends the following: Calves 

 with diarrhoea must only be fed boiled milk during this disease. 

 The milk vessels must not be cleansed with unboiled water 

 from ditches or brooks, as practiced by some farmers ; the 

 putrid liquid discharged from the vagina in cases of septic 

 metritis must also be taken care of. The animals easily infect 

 the udder with the tail, from where the bacteria get into the 

 milk pail when the animal is milked. This fluid sometimes 

 contains the bacteria of septic pleuropneumonia. Therefore it 

 is certainly indicated to keep the udder clean, respectively 

 cleanse it mechanically with soap and warm water. 



The umbilicus during and immediately after birth must 

 also be treated antiseptically. 



(c) CALF SEPTICEMIA (JANSEN). 



Jensen observed a disease among calves in Denmark. The 

 specific cause, according to his investigation, is an ovoid bac- 

 terium. These correspond morphologically and biologically 

 with the microbes of chicken cholera, septicaemia hemorrhagica 

 (Kitt), and swine plague. Only their pathogenic properties 

 show differences. According to Jensen, it is closely related to 

 Poel's pleuropneumonia, but runs a more acute course without 

 showing any inflammatory processes in the lungs. The calves 



