1026 Veterinary Obstetrics 



How true this may be, has not been definitely shown, but it is 

 certainly true that many animals are well raised without having 

 access to the colostrum. In many mares the milk has been 

 •flowing freely from the udder for days or weeks before the foal 

 is born, and the colostrum has already escaped. Yet, so far as 

 we have clinically observed, the foal does not suffer from this 

 cause. 



When young animals are to be artificially reared, the task 

 should be undertaken with a practical understanding and appli- 

 cation of the rules of aseptic feeding. The food should be given 

 frequently, and in small amounts, in harmony with the undevel- 

 oped state of the alimentary tract, and it' should be as free as 

 practicable from decomposition and from filth bacteria. The 

 vessels from which the milk is fed to the young animal should be 

 regularly cleansed and sterilized by boiling before each feeding. 

 In some instances it may be desirable to Pasteurize the milk be- 

 fore it is fed to the young animal, but this process reduces the 

 digestibility of the milk to a degree, and is undesirable except 

 in those cases where dangerous pollution cannot otherwise be 

 avoided. 



The composition of the food should resemble as closely as pos- 

 sible the normal milk of the species of animal to which it is being 

 fed. When a young animal is being reared artificially, the milk 

 should preferably be derived from an animal of its own species. 



The surroundings of the new-born should be scrupuously clean, 

 and there should be a careful avoidance of any dangerous sub- 

 stances which are likely to be swallowed. If the young animal 

 exhibits a morbid appetite, such as a tendency to eat bedding, it 

 is highly important to apply effective preventive measures. In 

 some instances the young animal shows a marked tendency to eat 

 fecal matter which has been voided by itself or other animals. 

 The eating of bedding may be largely overcome by removing it 

 and keeping the animal upon a bare floor, or still better, when 

 the season and surroundings will permit, by placing the animal 

 upon clean grass. In other cases, where the morbid appetite is 

 rnarked and serious, we have found it necessary to apply a muzzle 

 to the 5'oung animal so that it could not swallow rubbigh. 



When the disease has become established, the precautions 

 above suggested should be rigidly enforced, and in addi- 

 tion, measures should be taken to remove, from the alimentary 



