DIARRHCEAS OR “ SCOURS ” OF NURSLINGS. 317 
appearance of scours in lambs than calves, and in the latter 
than colts, as the sequel of interrupted or abnormal digestion. 
There are variations in the proportionate constituents of milk 
in the same grade and class of animals, however, and also, at 
times, in the same individual animal; and it is a well known 
fact that all exhibit a greater proportion of casein, butter, and 
albumen at night than in the morning. Again, the milk 
supply varies also with the condition, food supply, and sur¬ 
roundings of the mother, consequently it is not, or should not 
be, a matter of indifference to the breeder how his animals are 
fed, especially when they have nurslings at their sides. Brew¬ 
ers’ grains, lush grass, refuse slops, and like foods that are em¬ 
ployed because of their supposed ability to increase the supply 
of milk, and also on the score of frugality, are apt to prove 
the reverse of economical so far as the rearing of young ani¬ 
mals is concerned ; to the suckling it is virtually “ offering a 
stone ” instead of giving “ bread.” It should be remembered, 
moreover, that while the nutritive apparatus in these immature 
creatures excels in absorption, it is also deficient in digestion 
as compared with adults. 
DIGESTION. 
Since sucklings do not masticate nor ruminate, and exhibit 
but slight evidences of salivary secretion during feeding, the 
diastatic effect is not instantaneous, but, on the contrary, the 
flow of saliva is secondary to deglutition. This is the reason 
why immature creatures so frequently exhibit the phenomenon, 
after feeding, that in children is denominated drilling. 
Sucklings are scarcely at all dependent upon saliva to 
further the act of digestion, and those of ruminants make little 
demand upon the first, second and third stomachs. As soon 
as the rumen is excited to action by the act of swallowing, the 
food is quickly passed to the abomasum, when digestion differs 
in no essential from that of other herbivoras, or even carnivorae 
and omnivoras. 
Arrived at the stomach (abomasum in ruminants) the milk 
is thoroughly mixed with the gastric secretion, and by the 
action of the rennet (milk curdling ferment) the casein is co- 
