DIARRHŒA AMONG CATTLE AND SHEEP.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 2, 8 April 1876, Page 3

DIARRHŒA AMONG CATTLE AND SHEEP.

Touso stock, including calves and lambs of a few weeks old, are especially subject to attacks of diarrhoea, even while they are living on the nourishment afforded hy their mothers, and arc therefore exempt, it might be imagined, from ordinary causes of the disease—'errors in jfdiet. Exposure to cold and wet causes ■febrile disturbance, the digestive function is interfered with, a quantity of acid secretion is poured out from the digestive momhrance, and most probably the liver fails to furnish enough ot its alkaline fluid, the bile, to neutralise the acid fluid. The milk taken into the stomach is coagulated hut not digested, and therefore becomes a source of further irritation; diarrhoea sets in, and the undigested food is voided scarcely changed in colour, and this circumstance gives to tlit* disease the common name of “ white scour The most effective treatment for this form of diarrhoea in very young animals is the administration of bicarbonate of potash in small doses. When the patients arc too young to he safely dosed, it is a common practice to give the mother a liberal dose of the agent daily, under the impression that a portion of the salt is carried out of the system in the milk, and in this way the young animal takes his food and medicine together. Whether or not the administration of potash increases the proporof potash salts are rapidly excreted, it is very likely to ho the ease, and at any rate the treatment seems to

answer. When the sick animals are old enough to be easily dosed, a drachm of the agent for a calf, or a scruple for a lamb, may be dissolved in a little milk, and given once a day until the symptom improves. Magnesia is a favorite remedy with some people ; hut most of the salts which are formed in the system hy the union of acids with their base are purgative, and may therefore increase the

disease. Chalk ;'s objectionable from totally a different reason ; the chief salts of lime are insoluble, ami the exhibition of chalk to young animals for any length of time may lead to the formation of concretions in the intestines. No dan-go-r, however, need be apprehended from a.ft w doses ; and one of the most popular remedies for “ scouring” iu calves and lambs is designated in Moron’s Pharmacy “ sheep and calves cordial.” This is composed of prepared chalk 20z., catechu loz.,' ginger 4 drachms, opium J drachm, peppermint 'water one pint. The dose for lambs is one or two tablespoonfuls morning and night, and for , calves double the quantity. a domestic remedy, flour gruel or starch, made sufficiently thin to be drunk by the animal or given us a drench, is often effectual.

Some pastures have a peculiar tendency to propuce purgation in the animals which feed on them. Some parts of central Somerset are distinguished by this peculiarity, and are known as “ scouring lands.” Such soils arc generally poor and nndrained, the herbage being coarse, and usually unnntritious. In cases of diarrhoea so caused there is no alternative between removing the animals from the land, or leaving them to take their chance until they become accustomed to their diet; medicine is of little or no use while the Causes of the disease are continuing in full operation. Occasional attacks of diarrsea occur on the healthiest pastures in certain seasons after continued rain which have saturated the soil, followed by hot sunny weather which causes the grass to grow rapidly. Here again the only safe course is to remove the animals, and if possible, to put them on a piece of old sainfoin ; if this cannot he done, the driest and thinnest pastures should be selected, and the proper allowance of food he made up by rations of sound hay, chaff, and meal. Bay salt may Also be given in small quantities in the food, or rock salt may be placed about the feeding grounds for the animals to lick. Diarrhoea among lambs is commonly caused by the presence of numerous tape worms in the intestines, and the disease in these instances sometimes assumes a very dangerous character. The animals in fact become so much exhausted 1 by the continuance of discharge, and the irritation caused by the worms,- that serious losses sometimes occur in' the flock. The treatment of that form of diarrhoea whiclfi is due' into stink!- parasites

inchub’d the use of medicines to expel the worm, and the allowance of nutritious food to restore the animal’s lost condition. Oil of mail fern, kousso, and turpentine are effective remedies, but they should only he given under the superintendence of a veterinary surgeon. One important point in reference to the occurrence of tape worms in sheep should not he lost sight ot : the animal which from tha iii\~nsif>n <>/ is certain to assist largely in perpetuating the disease, hy furnishing new crops of germs while it is feeding on the infested land.

The laval form of the tape worm of the sheep resides in soft bodied animals, as snails and insects, which arc swallowed with the herbage, and become developed into the mature parasite. This fact must he remembered when it is proposed to move diseased lambs from (lie lands where, they contracted the affection. The proceeding is wise so far as the animals themselves are concerned ; but it is quite possible to lead to the contamination of the pasture if the circumstances arc favorable to the development of the embryos of the worm. Fortunately, a dry soil, which is most congenial to the affected sheep, is inimical to the growth of the parasite germ.

In some cases diarrhcea is associated with chronic derangement of the liver and other organs of the digestive system, and assumes the character of dysentery, ar as it is commonly termed “ rot,” from the general wasting of condition with which it is attended. This disease was much more common than it is now under an improved system of management, but it occurs sufficiently ottcu to make it worth while to consider its nature and treatment, wliich will form the subject article. —“ The Field.”