SCOURING IN CALVES. 
349 
tail is invariably soiled ; on making an incision the first point 
to be noticed is the pale white character of the muscles and 
intestines; the lungs appear normal except for hypostatic 
congestion; the heart usually contains a quantity of dark- 
colored blood in both sides; the heart muscles are flabby and 
soft. 
« 
The intestines contain dirty white liquid consisting of un¬ 
digested food and particles of curdled milk. In most in¬ 
stances the mucous membrane is soft and easily separated, 
but it must be remembered that it is usually hot weather and 
the post-mortem changes are very rapid. The stomach usu¬ 
ally contains a quantity of frothy undigested food, liquid food ; 
the mucous membranes are all pale in color and have a washed 
out appearance. 
Other abdominal organs appear normal, notwithstanding 
the absence of pathological changes ; however, the conditions 
would not be easily mistaken. The flabby condition of the 
muscles, the collapsed condition of the abdominal walls, the 
dirty condition of the buttocks, sunken eyes, paleness of in¬ 
testinal organs, all tell a tale that would enable one to recog¬ 
nize a case, even if there was no history to guide him. 
Treatment .— Scouring in calves is an exceedingly indefi¬ 
nite term. It seems to include all cases of simple dyspeptic 
diarrhoea, acute mycotic diarrhoea, and even the more chronic 
forms take shelter under its wing ; and in considering the 
treatment to be adopted, while the general plan of treatment 
is the same in all, yet the success attending treatment in the 
more severe forms is usually far from encouraging. The es¬ 
sential points to be remembered in treating a case of acute 
mycotic diarrhoea are, first and foremost, to sustain and 
strengthen the heart and system generally, to allay nervous 
irritation, and to stop diarrhceal discharges. 
The treatment with which I have had the greatest success 
is to clear out the gastro-intestinal tract with laxative medi¬ 
cine (nothing answers the purpose better than castor oil, 5 i- 
3 iss), to stop all milk diet for from twelve to forty-eight hours, 
and to support the system with brandy and eggs and oatmeal 
water. The brandy and water should be used freely. Opium 
is a good heart-tonic, and at the same time it diminishes the 
