The cord will shrivel a little less rapidly than it would if exposed to the air, but will be protected from all infection. The young animal should be separated from the mother to prevent her from displacing the dressing by licking the parts.
In a few days all danger is at an end. This method is very simple, and can be carried out even by the breeder and in an infected byre. Nocard recommends the use of umbilical dressings containing collodion, and the practitioner can choose whichever method he pleases.
In grave outbreaks involving large establishments, the byres should be rigorously disinfected, and it is sometimes well to segregate cows about to calve in a special byre, from which the calves are not allowed to pass until the umbilicus is cicatrised.
TAKOSIS: A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE OF GOATS.[[4]]
[4]. Annual Report, U.S.A. Bureau of Animal Industry, 1902, p. 354 (Mohler and Washburn).
This disease has been seen in Angora goats brought from Texas into Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Symptoms. The disease presents many of the symptoms usually accompanying a parasitic invasion, and is characterised by great emaciation and weakness, with symptoms of diarrhœa and pneumonia. In the early stages of the affection there is usually little to indicate that anything is seriously amiss with the animal. The first observable symptom manifested is the listless and languid appearance of the animal, evidenced by its lagging behind the flock, and is usually accompanied by a drooping of the ears and a drowsy appearance of the eyes. The pulse is slow and feeble, and the temperature is elevated slightly at first, but becomes subnormal a few days before death. The highest temperature observed in the natural disease was 104·1°, and the lowest, in a prostrated animal a few hours before death, registered 99·7° Fahr. Snuffling of the nose, as in a case of coryza, with occasional coughing is sometimes in evidence.
As the disease advances the animal moves about in a desultory manner, with back arched, neck drawn down toward the sternum, and with a staggering gait. Rumination is seldom impaired. The appetite, while not so vigorous, is still present, though capricious, and the affected animal shows plainly that the ravages of the disease are rapidly overcoming the restorative elements derived from the food. The fleece is usually of good growth, and presents a surprisingly thrifty appearance when the condition of the animal is taken into consideration. All the exposed mucous membranes appear pale, and the respirations are accelerated and laboured. The goats finally become so weak that they are readily knocked down and trampled upon by their fellows. If picked up they may move off slowly and eat a little, but within a few hours are down again, and in this way linger for several days, shrinking to about half their natural weight, and occasionally bleating or groaning, with head bent around on the side or drawn down to the sternum. A fluid discharge from the bowels of a very offensive odour is usually observed in the last few days of life, but this symptom is not constant.
Course and Susceptibility. This disease may assume a subacute or chronic type, usually the latter. The animal dies of inanition in from eight days to six or eight weeks. Several owners have reported deaths after only two or three days of illness, but the goats doubtless had been affected for a longer period, although not noticed on account of their mingling in the flock. Many of the animals live for weeks, but gradually become weaker and more debilitated, finally dying in a comatose condition. In no instance has the natural recovery of an animal after once the symptoms of takosis were noticed been observed or heard of.
The younger goats seem to be the most susceptible to the disease, although the old animals are by no means immune.