CALF CHOLERA. 65 



kept on unwholesome food; keeping calves in cold, damp, dark, filthy or bad smell- 

 ing pens ; the licking of hair from themselves or others and its formation into balls 

 in the stomach will cause indigestion in the calf. 



Simple Scours Develops Into Infectious Diseases. 



The above are causes of simple diarrhcea or scours. This form in its early stages 

 is not infectious, but is due to indigestion. As indigestion persists, however, the 

 fermentations going on in tUe undigested masses become steadily more complicated 

 and active, and what was at lirst the mere result of irritation or suspended digestion, 

 conies to be a genuine infectious disease, in which the organized ferments (bacteria 

 or germs) propagate, multiply and produce an infectious disease which is commonly 

 called scours in calves, but properly called Calf Cholera. It is for this reason that 

 it is transmitted and carried from one animal to another, thus causing untold losses 

 to dairyman and breeder. 



Disease Appears Suddenly. 



Scours in calves or Calf Cholera in many instances differs from Diarrhcea in the 

 adults and has special features of its own, taking the form of infectious intestinal 

 catarrh, which is far more serious than the ordinary diarrhoea of the full grown ani- 

 mal. This disease generally appears suddenly. A perfectly healthy calf may be 

 seized all at once, apparently, without any change in food or care. The symptoms 

 of this infantile diarrhcea usually appear during the first two or three weeks of life. 

 In many cases it occurs within a few hours after the animal is born, and the calf 

 may die within from twenty-four to forty-eight liours. 



Calf May Contain Germs at Birth. 



It is common for the calf to be afflicted with scours immediately at birth, even 

 before it has had time to suck or take any nourishment whatever. 



The fjeces or manure is very thin and watery. It has a sour, disagreeable 

 odor, and is usually very light colored. The evacuations are frequent and e.-cpelled 

 Vv-ith force. 



Prompt Attention Necessary. 



The first indication of the presence of the disease is usually the soiled condition 

 of the tail, loss of appetite, sunken eyes, sometimes the saliva flowing from the 

 mouth, no attempt being made to swallow it. They have a staring coat, grow thin 

 and lose strength rapidly. Death usually follows in from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours unless prompt measures are taken to check the disease. If allowed to continue 

 for any length of time the scouring will be accompanied by congestion and ulceration 

 of the intestinal mucous membrane caused by the irritating secretions. As a result of 

 this disease partial or total blindness is sometimes brought on. 



How to Prevent Calf Cholera. 



To prevent scours in calves, proper care should be given to the mother while 

 she is pregnant, that she may be able to give birth to a healthy calf. As it is a germ 

 disease, it is very important that the calf has none of these germs in its system 

 before it is born. Calves from mothers which are affected with the disease of abor- 

 tion are most apt to die of scours. It is therefore very necessary that the cows be 

 kept free from the disease. Calves born afflicted with the germs of this disease in 

 their system are in a position to spread the disease to other calves that they may 

 come in contact with in the same herd, or if shipped, to other herds. This is another 

 proof of its infectious nature. 



