126
Common Diseases of Young Calves
carbolic acid and glycerine, and subsequently treated daily with milder dress-
ings such as 2½per cent carbolic lotion or tincture of iodine till the wound
is healed, When there is an abscess in the region of a joint, it should be open-
ed, evacuated, irrigated with a disinfectant lotion followed by an injection of
clove oil into the wound which should then be bandaged. If the abscess
involves the joint proper and it has reached the stage of purulent arthritis,
treatment is rarely worth while. In the case of non-suppurating inflammation
of the joint, a weak biniodide of mercury blister or a mixture of liniment cam-
phor co. (one part), liniment belladona (two parts) and liniment saponis
(three parts) may be applied locally. Stimulants and internal antiseptics may
be administered, e.g. 1 to 2 drachms of aromatic spirits of ammonia and ½
to 1 drachm of salol in about two ounces of water, thrice daily. Calcium sul-
phide in 15 grains dose mixed with simple syrup may be given thrice daily as
it has been found to be good in all pyaemic conditions.
(v) Calf diphtheria.—This is another contagious bacterial disease of young
calves but the infection in this case is acquired after birth. It is characterized
in its course by diphtheritic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
mouth, from where it may extend further. Generally the disease is confined
to such farms or premises where calves are reared under insanitary conditions.
It is quite distinct from human diphtheria and is usually conveyed through
unclean milk pails and feeding utensils. The organism of the disease remains
alive for a considerable period in sheds and is therefore easily transmitted to
healthy calves. Poorly fed calves are most susceptible and the disease is
more common among pail-fed calves during early spring and late autumn
months when the weather is changing and is rather cold. Infection is facili-
tated by the eruption of teeth which causes injuries to the mucous membranes
of the mouth.
In an outbreak, the majority of calves become affected, weak and poorly
nourished calves being usually the first to be attacked. The affected calves
show a rise of temperature,unthriftiness, impaired appetite, salivation,
coughing, dirty-yellow nasal discharge and red granulating ulcers and yellow
patches on the mucous membrane of the lips, gums and inside the mouth.
These mouth lesions bleed easily and make it difficult for the affected calf to
pick up solid food. The infection may spread to the intestine and lungs. The
bowels may become irregular, with a tendency to diarrhœa, and in some cases
pneumonia develops and increases the mortality. Severe cases die in three to
five days whereas mild cases may recover with suitable treatment in about
three to four weeks but the animals' growth remains stunted. On post-mortem
examination the yellow patches and ulcers referred to above may be found to
have extended to the pharynx, nasal cavity, larynx, lungs and liver and at
other times in the intestine (Plate X, fig. 4).
For the control of this disease milk pails, feeding utensils or troughs should
be examined in order to determine the source of infection. One should be
particularly suspicious about those that are made of wood. All such utensils
or troughs should be thoroughly scalded. The calves should be examined and
those affected should be isolated and kept in a clean warm place. The premises
should be thoroughly disinfected. The mouth lesions should be cleaned with
1 in 1000 solution of potassium permanganate, and the yellow patches may be