River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-08-13
Eye Disease of Cattle.

So-called "pink-eye," properly
termed contagious ophthalmia, -
has appeared among cattle in this
and other states and presents the
following effects:
SYMPTOMS.-Ad young cat
tie and calves first show swelling of
the eyelids accompanied by weep
ing. Redness of membranes of eye
lids and "haw" becomes apparent,
creamy discharge follows and in
three or four days a clouded spot
shows in the center of the eye and
gradually spreads until sight OF eye
becomes milk-colored. Changing
from milk-color to pearl tint the eye
may become yellow, bulge, show
blood-shot streaks, form an abscess
and burst leaving ragged ulcer,
or commence to clear up and finally
recover. Slight ulcers may heal by
granulation, but extensive ruptures
and ulcers often lead to loss of
sight. Fever and some loss of APP
petite is present, especially in
young cattle, for a week or more
from the time of first attack and
dairy cows may shrink in milk pro-
duction.
TREATMENT. The disease be-
ing catching and doubtless due
to germ which leads to its spread
from one animal to another affected
cattle should be separated from un-
affected; eyes of latter should be
washed once or twice a week with a
weak solution of two drachms of
boracic acid in pint of water as a
possible preventive and pastures
bordering on rivers, ponds and
sloughs should be abandoned as
the disease seems most liable to at
tack cattle grazing on such low, wet
ground. Place affected cattle in a
darkened shed or stable. Give each
adult animal one pound dose of
| epson salts with one ounce of salt
peter and one ounce of ground gin
ger root in two quarts of warm
water as one dose and follow with
| tablespoonful of saltpeter twice
daily in drinking water or soft food.
Younger cattle should have the
same medicine in smaller doses ac-
cording to age and size. While
under treatment do not feed grain
but give soft and green food; allow
all the cold water animals will take.
AT the commencement OF an attack
puff between eyelids by means IF a
clean insect powder bellows mix
ture of equal parts of finely powder
ed calomel and boracic acid; or
cover eyes with soft cloth to be kept
wet with a 10000 solution of BIZ
chloride of mercury corrosive subli-
mate.) This treatment may prove
sufficient in majority of cases but
should the disease persist and ag-
gravate, substitute for above lotion
one, consisting of drachm each of
sulphate of zinc and fluid extract of
belladonna leaves with 20 drops of
carbolic acid in quart of clean,
soft water with which to keep cloth
over eyes continually wet. When
Inflammation subsidies should eye
remain milky-appearing paint once
daily with 1-1000solution of BIZ
chloride of mercury or 8 per cent
solution of boracic acid. In bad cases
which ere tardy in responding to
treatment give-except to pregnant
cows-one drachm of iodide of pot
ash twice daily for adult animal and
from ten to twenty grains for calves
and yearlings, continuing it's use
for one week. Ragged ulcers may
with benefit be painted with a
solution of three grains of nitrate of
silver in an ounce of distilled water
| two or three times week. Lastly,
quarantine animals bought at stock
yards shipped in or from infected
| herds. A. S. ALEXANDER,
Veterinarian.
Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment
| Station, Madison, Wis.