568 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
The unfavorable outlook after the appearance of the disease, to- 
gether with the fact that the disease when present requires the atten- 
tion of a veterinarian, demands that the breeder concern himself 
with its prevention. 
The disease is caused by a microorganism and several bacteria have 
been suspected of being responsible. Every one of the suspected 
organisms is found abundantly in manure and objects contaminated 
with manure. The infective material gains entrance into the colt 
through the open umbilical cord as a result of its coming into contact 
with litter, floors, or discharges from its dam contaminated by one 
of the organisms which cause the trouble. There are cases on record 
in which the infection has taken place before birth, and while some 
investigators assert that this method is the principal mode of infec- 
tion still, in a large number of cases, the prophylactic measures 
adopted to guard against the infection through the navel cord have 
given good results. Since infection before birth can not be controlled 
satisfactorily, we are justified, for all practical purposes, in pre- 
venting navel ill by guarding against the infection through the cord 
at birth or soon afterwards. 
Cleanliness of stables where pregnant mares are kept must be in- 
sisted upon. This is especially necessary where outbreaks of navel 
ill have been known to exist. Mares in the last stages of gestation 
should be placed in a box stall which has previously been cleaned 
‘and disinfected. The bedding should be frequently renewed and the 
external genitals and neighboring tissues should be kept clean and 
disinfected with a 2 per cent solution of carbolic acid or 1 per cent 
liquor cresolis compositus, or any other reliable disinfecting agent. 
Operations for opening abscesses and removal of afterbirths from 
cows should not be executed in the immediate vicinity of mares in an 
advanced stage of pregnancy. 
The foal when dropped should be placed on clean bedding. In 
any event the cord of the foal should be washed in a disinfect- 
ant solution and tied at about 14 inches from the navel with 
a band or string which has previously been soaked in a disinfectant 
solution. With a sharp pair of scissors the navel cord is then sev- 
ered about one-half inch below the band and again disinfected. 
The ligature should not be tightened, however, until pulsation of 
the vessels in the cord has ceased. The stump of the cord is then 
painted with strong carbolic-acid solution, tincture of iodin, or a 
mixture of equal parts of tincture of iodin and glycerin. The 
stump should be washed daily with a disinfectant and either painted 
with iodin mixture or carbolic acid or dusted with some reliable 
antiseptic healing powder. After five days the parchmentlike dried 
stump may be cut off and the navel wound washed with a disin- 
fectant solution and dusted with powder until healed. 
