152 REPORT ON MURRAIN. 



body is found to be low, and weakness present, and suppurative 

 process tardy and slow, as an effect of prostration, &c. 



All loose portions of hoof should be removed, together with 

 those which favour the retention of matter ; in some instances an 

 opening should be made at the solar portion of the foot when 

 matter burrows deeply ; abscesses opened as early and as freely 

 as possible, and poultices 8 to the feet, assisted by mild caustics, 9 

 to promote the healing powers. Strong caustics I have found to 

 be highly prejudicial, especially in milch cows, by their unerring 

 tendency to the increase of irritation or symptomatic fever. The 

 various acids are highly useful, and may be used as hereafter 

 directed, free or mixed with the poultice. 



In those extreme cases, where abscesses form over various 

 parts of the body, due attention must be paid to the state of the 

 bowels, ab initio, succeeded by the early use of tonics and stimu- 

 lants — iron with gentian being found highly useful, not only as a 

 topical dressing to the mouth, but as an invigorating agent to 

 the whole system. Liberal diet should be allowed as the patient 

 will take it, but when the extreme soreness of the mouth pre- 

 cludes the possibility of doing so, demulcent drinks, and thick 

 oatmeal and linseed gruel with treacle should be given with the 

 horn, if the beast cannot take it, in which the iron and gentian 10 

 may be mixed. Hay tea forms a very agreeable drink, of which 

 most animals will partake, and should be allowed ad libitum, 

 when diarrhoea is not present or feared to come on. Ale, port 

 wine, and various spirits are sometimes used, but their more 

 useful counterparts may be obtained in the shape of ammonia, 

 &c, with gruel and treacle, &c. Open the abscesses freely and 

 as early as possible, after which keep them clean and treat as 

 ordinary wounds. The zinc myrrh compositum, Tr. Arnica 

 Montana, or white lotion of the Edinburgh Veterinary College, 

 as presciibed by Professor Dick form very good compounds, the 

 latter being the most efficacious. [Should the healing process be 

 tardy, and ulceration and sloughing probable, as indicated by a 

 dry unhealthy appearance of the wounds, use the black oils, or 

 spirits of camphor, turpentine liniment, &c. 



In affections of the mammary gland, the teat syphon should 

 be used to draw off the milk, and obviate the increase of sore- 

 ness to the teats by milking. Weak solutions of carbonate of 

 soda 11 injected up the teat of the affected quarter have proved 

 highly successful in my hands, allaying the irritation arising 

 from the retention and coagulation of milk, and neutralizing free, 

 acids which are formed within as a result of the resident inflam- 

 mation. I have also found large doses internally of very great 

 service in these affections, in conjunction with moderate deple- 

 tive measures, which under these complications the animal will 

 generally bear with much greater safety. 



