342 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



bring on an attack. Whatever the cause, it should be removed 

 and the case treated at once, as the calf is not likely to live long 

 if the diarrhea continues. Perhaps the first thing to do is to 

 reduce the feed from one-half to two-thirds. In treating, one 

 must keep in mind the nature of the disease, that it is caused by 

 an irritant in the stomach or bowels which must be removed 

 before a cure can be effected. For this reason one should be 

 cautious about giving an astringent with a view to cutting off 

 the discharge. The best policy in all such diseases is to expel 

 the disturber with a laxative, such as one to two ounces of castor 

 oil. Later when the irritant has been removed by the oil, check 

 the discharge by a weak solution of gum arable, or by adding a 

 little lime water, not to exceed one-third to the milk each meal, 

 or by adding parched flour to boiled milk, or by the essence of 

 Jamaica ginger well diluted with hot water, and in persistent 

 cases by the use of such astringent as oak bark tea, which is 

 made by stripping the inner bark of white oak. 



White scour is a violent and deadly form of diarrhea, frequently 

 attacking young calves. This may appear immediately after 

 birth and is hkely to show itself within the first or second day. 

 It often occurs as a contagious disease, attacking all the calves 

 that are dropped in the stable for some time. For this reason 

 it is often called " contagious scours." The disease is caused 

 by a germ that enters in most cases through the navel. The 

 calf appears dull and weak, the eyes are sunken, the belly 

 retracted, the breathing is short and rapid, the temperature 

 very low, and the calf soon becomes unconscious. The dis- 

 charge from the bowels is rather profuse, of a yellowish white 

 color and very offensive odor. As a rule the caK dies within 

 twenty-four to thirty-six hours. 



As there seems to be no treatment, we must rely on pre- 

 vention. A week before calving the pregnant cow should be 

 placed in comfortable quarters where no sick calves have been 

 confined. This seems to be the only safe course, for after the 



