EASILY PREVENTIBLE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10334, 20 December 1928, Page 4

EASILY PREVENTIBLE.

JOINT ILL IN FOALS

STATEMENT BY MR A. M. PATERSON, M.R/C.V.S.

Many eases of joint ill in foals have omirmi throughout the South, Canterbury district during the past few weeks; and in a statement Mr A. M. Paterson, veterinary surgeon, states that this fact may he taken as an indication that all farmers are not yet aware that this is an easily preventable disease, Avhieh, with the exercise of a little care at foaling time, would never be seen or heard of. The disease is caused by infection through the umbilicus, at the time of foaling, or shortly afterwards; and all that is necessary to prevent that infection, is to ligature the string with a piece of tape saturated in pure kerol, or to occlude the orifice Avith a smearing of Stockholm tar. To slioav the efficacy of those meas ares, it need only be mentioned that, in a badly affected district, not a single case of this disease, was met with during a period of three years, when those precautions were taken. Foals developing this disease, are, at first stiff, then decidedly lame, in one or more joints, but most frequently the hock joints. Great pain and considerable -swelling accompany the lameness, and the patient loses fiesli very rapidly. The hair is next shed from the swollen parts, exposing the skin, which is of a blue colour. The skin breaks, and a pale siraAv-eoloured frothy Jluid exudes. In this condition the animal lingers on for weeks or months, unless it has succumbed meantime to bloodpoisoning, resulting from infection of its wounds. Medicinally very little can be done by the farmer; but lie may do much by assiduous nursing and particularly by keeping the wounds clean and healthy. In this, as in many other diseases, prevention should be the chief aim of all horse breeders.