Infectious Diarrhea of Calves 1031 



it would certainly be unfortunate to ignore other even more 

 probable avenues of infection. 



If the infection exists in the genital passages of the mother, it 

 may as readily gain the lungs and alimentary tract by entering the 

 nostrils and mouth as it may enter the system through the umbliic 

 vi^ound . It is therefore quite as important to guard these portals of 

 entry, as it is the umbilic stump. Assuming the correctness of the 

 view that the infection is already lying in wait in the genital 

 canal when birth begins, antiseptic irrigations of the vaginal 

 canal of the cow just prior to labor, and the immediate disinfec- 

 tion of the nostrils and mouth of the new-born are indicated. As 

 we have already indicated on page 561, we very greatly prefer, 

 and strongly recommend, the application of dessicant antiseptic 

 powders to the freshly ruptured navel, and would omit the 

 ligature. We regard the dessication of the navel stump as more 

 efficient, convenient and economic. Apparently those who advise 

 ligation of the cord desire that it shall be done prior to rupture, 

 but the cord of the calf is so short that it usually ruptures at the 

 moment of expulsion, and immediately encounters the most crit- 

 ical exposure in its history, if we accept the theory of intra- 

 vaginal infection. A ligature, encircling the now dormant cord 

 and presumably infected stump, cannot act as a barrier to the 

 spread of the infection, but it may readily favor the extension of 

 the infection in the necrotic stump by retaining the included 

 Whartonian gelatin. 



The calf should at once be removed from the cow and from the 

 infected stable. The removal is to be followed by the rigid appli- 

 cation of the general rules of asepsis and antisepsis. These must 

 include clean and comfortable quarters for the new-born, and 

 strictly clean milk in proper quantity and at proper intervals. In 

 applying these rules, the milk must be withdrawn from the cow 

 under the strictest possible precautions to avoid its contamina- 

 tion. Before the milk is drawn, the milker should carefully dis- 

 infect his hands and the udder of the cow. The milk should be 

 drawn in a sterile vessel. Ample precautions are to be taken 

 against contamination of the milk between its withdrawal and 

 feeding to the calf. The feeding vessels must be handled under 

 strict aseptic precautions, being sterilized before each feeding. 

 Care must be taken also that the infection shall not be borne to the 

 susceptible young by intermediary bearers, such as caretakers,. 



