248 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



pyemic and septicemic inflammation of joints in calves 



(joint-ill). 



This occurs in young calves within the first months 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. Rheumatism, again, 

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

 formation of white matter, while the affection before named attacks 

 the structures 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 

 abscesses in and around the joints. 



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

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

 stantly, and cares not to suck. There is very high fever and acceler- 

 ated breathing and pulse, and there is swelling and purulent dis- 

 charge (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 gensial 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 emaci- 

 ated 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 off through the nozzle of a hypo- 

 dermic syringe and the following solution injected : Compound tinc- 

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

 nally the calf may take 5 grains quinia twice daily and 15 grains 

 hyposulphite of soda, or 20 grains salicylate of soda three times a day. 



UMBILICAL HERNIA (BREACH AT THE NAVEL). 



This may exist at birth from imperfect closure of the muscles around 

 the opening; it may even extend backward for a distance, from the 

 two sides failing to come together. Apart from this, the trouble rarely 

 appears after the calf has been some time on solid food, as the paunch 



