RED-WATER IN CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3304, 11 July 1917, Page 8

RED-WATER IN CATTLE.

There are two forms of the disease known as '' red-water," common to cattle, but fortunately New Zealand has had only to do with the type peculiar to wet sub oils —the form common on the moor-1-nd soils (hence called " mnir-il>.of the Homeland and on low-lying, soils. Cows a fortnight or so after evmg, and trually, but not necessarily, up in years, seem prone to the disease at times, and it is due practically to improper or careless dieting. Some five years ago, writing in the Journal of Agriculture, Veterinariansurgeon J. G. Clayton, M.R.C.V.S., refers to this disease. He says, inter alia, that " the most serious form is the ' Texas fever' in North America, ' Rhodesian redwater ' and ' East Coast fever ' in South Africa, ' tick fever ' in Queensland, and 'trirte'zza' in Argentina. This disease is due to the presence of a parasite in the blood, and the disease is carried from one animal to another by the agency of certain species of the tick family. These particular ticks are not found in New Zeiland, and their introduction is strictly guarded against by the importation of animals from countries where thev are known to exist." The so-called " red-water " in this country is a dietetic and parturient condemn,' and is dne to a disturbance of the digestive and assimulative processes, leading to £1 alteration or depravity of the constituents of the blood and their partial destruction. It occurs generally at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and if cases are taken in time recovery is rapid. It is very common on low-lying pastures and with in-calf cows fed injudiciously on turnips. In such cases the ration is ill-balanced, and there Is a want of protein, and one witnesses

tho consequent upsetting of the digestive and assimulative precedes. The blood undergoes certain changes, and is rendered unsuited for right assimilation by the system, and is eznreted by the kidneys. It is a curious thing, but Mr Clayton writes that with regard to cases that occur when cattle are feeding on turnips alone for the most of them occur when the roots are grown upon poor land. What might be termed the parturient form is sometimes noticed a week or eo prior to calving, but generally from eight to 14 days afterwards. In this connection care must be taken not to mistake a case of septic mebritis for one of socalled " red-water." In septic mebritis the urine may be discoloured by discharges from- the womb, which are of a dirty b own and not of a red colour. This disease usually occurs within five to 25 days after ca'ving. Cattle on turnips should be looked to every morning early. On rising they generally urinate, and the conditions should be observed. Diarrhoea is frequently present in the early stages, followed by constipation. In regard to treatment, change of feed—and it should be of a nourishing nature—is the first thing—say, good hay or oatenchaff. Provide something: of the nature of linseed. Milk in which half a dozen to a dozen raw eggs have been beaten up is recommended as a drench. The animal should be kept warm and possibly rugged. It is a good nractice to give a purgative in any case. Veterinarian Clayton recommends the administration of a pint and a-half of raw linseed oil, ( and add, say, half a wineglassful of oil of turpentine ; this to be repeated, if necessary, about the third day. A drench should also be given twice a day, composed of carbonate of ammonia, ; powdered nux vomica, 2dr; bicarbonate of soda and powdered ginger, each loz. Give in milk or thin oatmeal or linseed gruel. The appetite should be humoured by providing some sweet hay, etc. ; and, generally, good nursing will mean good results.