FATAL DISEASES AMONG CALVES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 5

FATAL DISEASES AMONG CALVES.

Tho Live Slock Journal has just published a lengthy account of fatal diseases among calves, written by that eminent authority, Mr Geo. Fleming, 0. B.,LL.D, and F.R.C.V.S , of London. The following portion treats of tho disease which is so fatal among calves, anil in the hope that it may prove of service to farmers and breeders we give it in eztoiso : The most fatal disease among calves (and which when it once breaks out in a locality continues for a long while unless cheeked) is familiarly known as "white scour." It is the most fatal disease to which calves are liable, the mortality varying from fifty-five to ninety-seven percent, of those attacked; though it also affects lambs and foals, and sometimes puppies and kittens, ft appears to be much more frequent among calves reared in dwellings than among those at, pasture, thus leading to the supposition that the artificial way in which they are kept has something to do with the genesis and spread of the malady. It sometimes haunts coA'slieda for years, and is seen more ! frequently in some localities than others-—low lying districts being, perhaps, more often and severely visited than elevated ami dry situations. It usually manifests itself within a few days after birth from the first to the third; beyond the fourth day it is much less frequent, in some instances the young creatures are affected before they have sucked, so that the milk cannot hive had any influence in its origin. Willi regard to the symptoms in the calf, tiny are few, but characteristic. If the creature is sucking it ceases to !o so, becomes uneasy, and, bellows;

I purging suddenly begins, the dejections being expelled violently; they are j very fluid and white, cons' Ruling what j is known as mucous dianhmi, or they ' are mixed wit h part ich s of cm died milk (white dysentery), and are not \>\. frequently streaked with bin -d Ai a later period l hey are. i jrcted continuously and involun!anl\, Kxhaustion is rapid and the calf e ifiliot ri ;<• ; con v u Ision.s ! i ■ 'j'l-a.l! v o :cn r ; sali \ a or foam fl iws from the nan h ; i hi- i \- pired air Ins a seer or uuph as ait od nil', and great emaciation s.ls in if the animal survives for a <l\y or two Towards tho end it lies immovable, and dies without a struggle in from one to three days. If it recovers, which is exceedingly rare, it is sickly and feeble for a long time ; but, as a rule, all those burn about the same time succumb. After the disease has prevailed for one or two years in a cowshed, it often assumes a milder form, and recoveries begin to be recorded. When it appear.; in small sheds where there are fewer calves and comparatively more space, it is much less to be dreaded ; and sometimes it subsides for some months Old calves tire not so readily affected, and they recover move frequently ; while weaned ones fed on fodder appear to enjoy immunity from the disease.

A very important point to be established 'is the cause of such a rapidly fatal disease; and those who

lave made a most careful study of it are now of the opinion that it is due to micro-organisms, and class it with the infectious maladies, the infecting agent being most abundant in the

matters from tho intestines, Good authorities pre inclined to believe that the calf is infected before it is born, as in many instances the symptoms are. | manifested immediately after birth ; and from the fit quent occurrence of the disease coincident!)' with infectious abortion, it is possible that the two are due to the same cause, or, if the infecting agent is different in each, that it gains access to the litmus of the cow in the same manner. Indeed, it is considered probable that an infective catarrhal condition of the genital organs of the cow is transmitted to the digestive canal of the young creature before it leaves the uterus. In connection with this interesting and important discovery, which is so valuable with regard to preventive measures, it is essential to observe that when pregnant cows tire transferred from an infected to a healthy cowshed, and soon after calve there, their progeny may still be attacked ; but if the transfer has taken place six weeks or two months before pailurition, then there is little danger of the calves being seized' with this infectious dysentery. in this, as with all other diseases of a serious character, prevention must be far more important than attempts at cure, especially when medical treatment is generally futile. Becognising it as infectious, attention to hygiene is urgently demanded when the disorder shows itself among pregnant cows. Then, if possible, all these should be moved at once to another shod, remembering that the longer the interval that elapses between their removal and the period of calving, so the greater likelihood there is of their progeny escaping the disease. If the cows are removed from the infected shed in from three to six weeks before parturition, then the safety of the calves may be fairly assured ; though it may be judicious to have the parts beneath the tab and down the back of the thighs sponged now and again with some safe disinfectant; and any discharge of a suspicious character from the genital canal should receive attention. The stable or shed in which the disease has shown itself should be thoroughly disinfected, and, if possible, left unoccupied for some time. The floor, more especially, should be cleansed and disinfected, as it is net at till improbable that the infection is retained there; it would bo well to renew the floor if this is nude of some material easily replaced. If this cannot be done, then .strong carbolic acid or chloride of lime wash must be freely employed, especially on those parts where the excreta have fallen ; it may lie also advisable to disinfect the entire shed by means of sulphurous acid or chlorine gas. It the diseased calf dies, it should be carefully jonveyed to some sequestered [dace and buried in quicklime.

! Curative treatment is not often successful with such young animals stifl'erI ing from a disease that runs its course |so lapidly. Salicylate of bismul h, in I Iwo-drachm doses, h is In en favourably j spoken of, as has creolin admini-dend I in small and In on nt doses dissolvul in wat-T The creosote treatment, neemmendtd for diurrlioe.i might be tried, Enemas if starch, to which a ! dilute solution (\ or 2 to 100) of I of pota.sh is added, should be admini-leml. Mill: should le I wil hh< Id, and well boiled gruel made with w beaten II mr, or < ;^' ri , and bi i!' lei, given instead. The calf one!,! to be made as condort dde us po.s ili-e, so j when exhaustion i"•.-.ius to show i: :•■!{ a small quantity of brandy miy be added to the grin I, v. ho.h > h:,u. ! d l.c given warm. TIN; "KtJOUii" IN CALVKS It is calculated bed, fully "AUKhj cal ;:>a Ii ive, in the pa -I, die I annually in this Colony from the complaint; known .-it tao '• rW.our.-~." This represents a loss to the farmers of, at least, XS>."■■»>. There is i i necessity for calves to (tic from scours, it' i!.; proper remedy in used in time. Mr Ale-;, Colson, of New Plymouth, so well and widely

.Mr New ion Kin--, the well-known auctioneer says: "'There is no mistake, those !>eour Drenches made l.y Ellis, of Stratford, are a wonderful remedy. J never saw anything ccjual to them. 1 had some calves, the other clay, lying almost dead from scour. I yavo them one do.so each, just on tho oil chance, hardly expecting them to live. Next day those same calves were strong and well, and as lively as crickets. I strongly recommend (.■very farmer to keep them by him, for f can guarantee if ho uses them in time ho will never have his calves die from the Scours." These Drenches may ho obtained through all storekeepers, at Is Gel per packet, with fall directions; or they wil! be sent free by post on receipt of tho amount, in postal note.; from the sole manufacturer, W. A. Ellis, M.P.S., Veterinary Druggist, Stratford. The wholesale agents are Saarland and Co., Wellington and kucklaal