Rocky Mountain husbandman., 1878-11-07
LIV { STOCK
NAyELrIIL AND MAVEN SWELLINGS IN
CALVES,


written asking for information regarding
navel-ill and other such complaints. The
frequency of swellings about the nmbilicus
OF calves depends upon their proneness to
lick at and suck eack other the cow in ex-
cess of affection also often rather roughly
pulls at or bites the protruding cord, which
thus becomes bruised, torn and inf1amed.
Such mischief occurs within the first week
after birth, but sometimes SO early as the
time of birth, owing to the nayel-strlng be-
inc rudely torn asunder within the belly
and serum, instead of escaping harnlessly,
remains in contact with the abrade surface.
Such severed surfaces are further apt to ab-
sorb any putretying germs that may be on
the ground or even in the air of the cow
pen. In his admirable work on Veterinary
Obstetricks,, Mr.. Fleming records cases Of
navel-ill produced by exposure OF the new
ly-dropped calf to fifth and over croWdng,
to wet and cold, as well as to such special
infectve materials as arise from putrefying
ot the placenta, Or other organic matters.
We have known nave-ill assume almost an
epizootic character amongst young lambs
dropped close to an imperfectly acleansed
slaughter house; and also where many
ewes have been aborting, and the foetuses
left communicating the lambing pens. In a
confined atmosphere one Or more cases of
the disease itself frequently produce virus
sufficient to spread the disorder amongst
the younger lambs as they are born. Such
facts Impress the old story that young ami
mails require that their lodgings and every
thing about them be perfectly clean and
pure.
The tediousness and danger Of navel-iil
depend not only on the external enlarge
ment, the infiltration OF serum, Or even of
blood into the connective tissues, or the
firm, hard swelling of the protruded por-
ton of the cord, but on the tact that the in
tlammation early seizes Oh the interior of
the open umbilical blood vessels, and trav-
els along them, reaching sometimes the Iiv-
er and other internal organs. The protru-
ding end Of the cord instead OF gradually
drying and whitening, is hard, swollen,
moist and hot /; the little patient Is feverish,
and arches its back. From the pertoneum
becoming involved, there is sometimes col
ic From inflammation of the vein, abb
scesses result, sometimes within the abdom-
inal ring and difficult to get at, causing iiec-
tic fever, pyania and death, or, in more
chronic eases, being complicated with in
flammation Of the joints. Often the liver
becomes implie ated, as indicated by yellow
ness Of the membranes during life, and at-
ter death bV ENLARGEMENT. but sometimes
by wasting and bloodlessness. A fatal le-
suit occasionally occurs in three days, but
more frequently the patient survives q
week.
The irritable swollen parts should be
carefully tomented and cleansed with tepid
water, and washed with one-to-twenty So
luton Of carbolic acid and this fonlenta-
ton and disintection should be repeated
two to three times daily. Any assesses
formed within the abdominal ring should
and diluted solution Of carbolic acid in
jected German veterinarians further rec
ommend that adiluted astrngent solution
be cautiously introduced into the in4lamed
umbilical vein. When the intense painful
external Inflammation does not yield to To-
mentations and antiseptics, it is well to
scalify, aud subsequently wash with carbol-
ic solution. TO counteract pyamia, sui
phate of soda and other antiseptics, with
iron chloride tincture, are prescribed.
Cleanliness and disinfectants are enoined
about the premises, to prevent further alb