The Veterinarian Part 16

INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE

(Conjunctivitis)

CAUSE: Injuries; irritating gases, from an animal standing in dark and poorly ventilated stables or foreign bodies in the eye, as chaff, etc.

SYMPTOMS: A constant flow of tears from the eye running down the animal's face, which are due to the inflammation of the lining membranes of the eye. The eye is partially or completely closed.

TREATMENT: If due to a foreign body, remove it. In order to accomplish this, the animal must be placed in a stanchion, the head twisted and the eyelid turned back. Do not use burned alum as this will only make the condition worse. Use Boracic Acid, thirty grains; distilled water, one ounce. Apply to the eye three or four times daily, using an ordinary eye-dropper.

INFLAMMATION OF THE HEART SACK

(Pericarditis)

CAUSE: Cattle being ruminants, therefore, not masticating their food finely before swallowing, consequently foreign bodies, such as nails, wire, etc., are picked up with the food and taken into the rumen or paunch. These sharp objects penetrate the walls of the paunch, rumen or first stomach and pierce the membrane or sack surrounding the heart, which produces an inflammation of the heart sack, or Pericarditis.

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms develop very slowly or indications of indigestion will be present as the appet.i.te is variable, temperature elevated, breathing labored, the animal avoids walking down hill as it causes pain from the stomach and intestines pressing the lungs against the heart.

The symptoms, however, are so slight that they may easily escape the notice of a casual observer. The animal eventually becomes poor, emaciated and dies. If you open the heart sack, it will be found full of watery pus.

TREATMENT: Unsuccessful, as this disease is seldom diagnosed correctly, and if it is an operation is necessary and this does not prove successful in the majority of cases.

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS

CAUSE: Injuries in the region of the kidneys, exposure to cold weather, especially in cows soon after calving. Eating poisonous plants, decomposed food or drinking stagnant water, irritating medicines given ignorantly of their bad effects are frequently followed by inflammation of the kidneys.

SYMPTOMS: The attack will first be noticed by slight s.h.i.+vering or chilling followed by an increased temperature, breathing increased. The animal attempts to urinate frequently and the amount pa.s.sed is small and of a dark amber color and may be flaked with blood. There will be stiffness and straddling of the hind legs which is always present during urinary disorders. There may be slight swelling and tenderness over the kidneys. As the disease progresses the animal grows weak and finally dies if prompt relief is not afforded. Fortunately this disease is not common among cattle.

TREATMENT: Clothe the animal if the weather is cold. Mild physics are beneficial, as Aloin, one and one-half drams; Ginger, two drams; Nux Vomica, two drams, placed in a gelatin capsule and given with capsule gun. Also, the following, which is very soothing to the urinary tract: Pota.s.sium Acetate, Pota.s.sium Bromide, each four ounces, made into sixteen powders. Give one powder every four hours in their drinking water. Feed nitrogenous food as hot wheat bran mashes, steamed rolled oats, and see that the animal has pure water to drink.

INFLAMMATION OF THE p.e.n.i.s

CAUSE: Injuries received from snags, walking through the underbrush, jumping fences, etc.

SYMPTOMS: Arched back, swelling of the sheath and in some cases a discharge. It may be serious enough to affect the appet.i.te and cause fever.

TREATMENT: Wash out the sheath two or three times daily with a three per cent solution of Boracic Acid. If the inflammation extends pretty well back in the sheath, it is advisable to inject this solution with a syringe, carefully, as far back as possible. Withdraw the syringe, holding the opening of the sheath so as to retain the solution for a few minutes before allowing it to escape.

Feed laxative food and supply the animal with fresh water to drink. If there is considerable fever, administer Pota.s.sium Nitrate, Pulv. Nux Vomica, each two ounces. Make into eight capsules and give one capsule two or three times a day.

INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB

CAUSE: Injuries, as bruises, laceration, sustained during calving, especially where the cow is a.s.sisted with instruments or hands that are not thoroughly aseptic, an animal retaining the afterbirth which undergoes putrefaction, and consequently sets up an inflammation of the womb, or perhaps the animal may become infected during the act of removing the afterbirth if the operator is neglectful about was.h.i.+ng his hands or was.h.i.+ng the womb out thoroughly.

SYMPTOMS: The animal will chill, the temperature elevated two or three degrees, the back will be arched, stiffness of the hind parts, legs, ears and horns cold, nose hot and dry, grinding of the teeth, the cow usually remains standing, ceases to chew her cud, the secretions of milk will be markedly reduced and a day or so after the symptoms appear, there will be a discharge from the womb of a reddish lumpy nature. This becomes thick and yellow containing small particles of flesh, showing that the inner lining of the womb is sloughing. This discharge is very offensive in odor. A cow in this condition requires the best of care or she will die as the decomposed substance in the womb may be absorbed into the circulation and produce Pyemia or Septicemia (Blood Poison).

TREATMENT: Give Aloin, two drams; Pulv. Ginger, three drams, place in a gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun. Flush out the womb thoroughly with a tablespoonful of Carbolic Acid to one gallon of water two or three times a day. A convenient instrument for flus.h.i.+ng out the womb can be made from an ordinary funnel and a clean hose about four feet long.

This answers the purpose of an injection syringe very well. In their drinking water add the following: Hyposulphite of Soda, sixteen ounces; Pota.s.sium Iodide, two ounces. Make into sixteen powders and give one powder two or three times a day.

In addition to the above treatment it is necessary to give alteratives and bitter tonics to build up the condition of the animal as soon as possible. The following will be found very effective: Pulv. Gentian Root, four ounces; Pulv. Ferri Sulphate, four ounces; Nitrate of Potash, four ounces. Mix and make into sixteen powders and give one powder three times a day. Place in a gelatin capsule and administer with a capsule gun.

My reasons for giving animals medicine in capsules are:

1. There is no danger of liquids, as in drenching, escaping into the lungs.

2. Any drug having any beneficial effects as a tonic is very bitter, consequently the only way the animal will take it is by placing in capsule.

JOINT ILL, NAVEL ILL

(Umbilical Pyemia and Septicemia)

CAUSE: This disease is produced by various germs entering the navel cord of newly born calves when dropped, the navel being freshly severed and its coming in contact with filth and manure where germs are numerous, consequently germs adhere and enter the blood stream. Calf Scours as a rule is a.s.sociated with this disease.

SYMPTOMS: Swelling of the joints which are very hot and painful on pressure, and when the calf is made to move it walks stiffly and slowly, does not care to nurse its mother or take any food, temperature elevated from 105 to 108 degrees F., breathing hurried, pulse very weak and quick. There will be an offensive discharge from the navel cord of a yellowish color and swollen joints finally break and also discharge a thick yellow pus. The calf becomes emaciated and finally dies from exhaustion.

TREATMENT: Prevention. Provide clean surroundings for cows when calving, and in addition to this have a one in one-thousandth solution of b.i.+.c.hloride of Mercury on hand. Wash the navel well in the solution once a day until the cord is thoroughly dried.

MEDICAL TREATMENT: Unsuccessful. Sometimes the calf recovers, but at best the calf is badly stunted and is very seldom worth keeping.

However, the following method of treatment has been followed with fairly good results: Wash the navel cord well in a one-thousandth solution of b.i.+.c.hloride of Mercury two or three times a day and give Zinc Sulphocarbolates, one-fourth grain; Pota.s.si Iodide, five grains, in a little water or milk three or four times a day. Feed them three or four eggs a day, mola.s.ses, fresh milk. This will keep up the strength and vitality and a good recovery may follow, although it is an exception and not a rule.

LACERATION OF THE EYELID

CAUSE: An eyelid may be torn on the manger, rubbing post or barb wire fence, etc.

TREATMENT: Wash the lacerated portions of the eye thoroughly with a five per cent solution of Carbolic Acid. It may be necessary to take a few st.i.tches in the wound or the torn edges may be cut off with a pair of sharp scissors. If st.i.tches have been taken, they should be removed after the parts have united and the eye kept clean. A very convenient application for the eye in this condition is Boracic Acid, one dram; Distilled Water, four ounces. Apply liberally to the eye.

LEECHES

(Blood Suckers)

Leeches which suck blood of cattle are sometimes taken up by the animals when drinking water from ponds, etc. The leeches attach themselves to the inner surface of the mouth or nose, and sometimes reach the upper part of windpipe or the gullet. Bleeding at the mouth or nose may be noticed, the membranes where the leeches attach themselves become congested and swollen, and as a result of the loss of blood anemic condition follows.

TREATMENT: If the leeches can be reached, they are easily destroyed by cutting them in two with a pair of scissors or they may be removed with a pair of forceps or with the fingers after wrapping a piece of cloth around them so as to prevent slipping.

Steam from boiling hot water containing Pine Tar or Oil of Turpentine may cause leeches to release their hold if they cannot be removed by other means. In ponds where leeches are numerous, eels should be introduced as they feed upon blood suckers of this species.