DISEASES OF CATTLE 341 



subject to many ills, chief of which are digestive disorders of 

 some kind. These digestive defects are likely to be more 

 numerous among dairy calves or those that are weaned while 

 yoimg and fed from the pail. This is often due to the difficulty 

 in keeping the conditions just right: the milk may get cold, the 

 pails may be unclean, the calf may drink too fast, and many 

 other irregularities. 



Constipation. — Notwithstanding the purgative effects of 

 the colostrum or first milk, the young calf occasionally suffers 

 from constipation, especially if the cow has not been in good 

 thrift, or has been fed on dry innutritious foods during the 

 latter periods of pregnancy. Whatever the cause, if the calf is 

 costive, straining violently without passing dung, lying down 

 and rising at once as in colic, and failing in appetite, no time 

 should be lost in giving refief . First remove the cause, if it can 

 be located. The bowels will ordinarily be stimulated to action 

 by administering one to two ounces of olive or castor oil. An 

 injection of warm water into the bowels will prove helpful. 

 The water should be at blood heat and have added to it a little 

 glycerine, — a teaspoonful of glycerine and two or three ounces 

 of water. It is not advisable to inject too much, or to use soap 

 suds as is often done. Inject gently into the rectum with a 

 common hard rubber syringe, taking extra care not to rupture 

 the tender membrane. This will induce the calf to try to pass 

 the fecal matter and in addition will lubricate the passage. 

 The injection may be repeated every hour. 



Diarrhea or scours. — This disease is prevalent among calves 

 and occurs in two forms: simple; and contagious or "white 

 scour." The causes of simple diarrhea are many and varied; 

 bad food, over-feeding, and too rapid feeding are the most 

 common. The surroundings of the calf often bring on the dis- 

 ease. Calves kept indoors are more liable to attacks than those 

 in the open air and having exercise, pure air, and sunshine. 

 Closely crowded, filthy, foul smelling buildings are hkely to 



