DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 457 



"The powder, or tincture of galls, would also be found a pow- 

 erful astringent. Some farmers give mutton suet boiled in milk, 

 with four ounces of oil of turpentine. I once gave eight ounces 

 of oil of turpentine mixed with a quart of gruel, and afterwards 

 kept the animal under cover, upon hay and bran mashes. The 

 dung acquired a healthy appearance in a short time; but on 

 turning her out again, the disease quickly returned." 



Dr. Dickson thinks that much advantage may be derived, in 

 these cases, from a strong decoction of hartshorn shavings and 

 cassia, with powdered chalk, in the proportion of half a pound 

 of chalk, four ounces of shavings, and an ounce of cassia, to be 

 boiled together in two quarts of water to three pints, adding the 

 cassia towards the close of the boiling. A horn full of this mix- 

 ture is to be given several times in the day, shaking it well 

 every time. 



CATARRH, OR COLD. 



Causes. The causes of colds are in general imperfectly under- 

 stood, and ought to be attended to. 



Symptoms. There are two species of catarrh, viz.: simple 

 cold, and epidemic catarrh, or what is frequently termed influ- 

 enza. The latter sometimes will attack a whole herd of cows, 

 or oxen in one night. When first attacked, the animal seems 

 dull and languid; the eyes appear watery, and are sometimes 

 partially closed ; and the appetite is generally diminished ; and 

 usually attended with cough. Indeed, there are not unfre- 

 quently swellings under, or below the ears, a discharge from the 

 nostrils, and also a difficulty in swallowing. When this com- 

 plaint rages thus violently, it is commonly called influenza, or 

 the distemper, and though some persons suppose it to be conta- 

 gious, it has not been correctly ascertained that it is so. 



Though colds are very prevalent, especially in very damp, or 

 cold weather, and are often deemed of too little consequence to 

 deserve particular notice, yet, if the animal is neglected, and suf- 

 fered to remain exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather, very 

 serious results may ensue. In consequence of such neglect, the 

 animal is frequently observed to decline gradually, both in sub- 

 stance and strength, and also to become hide-bound, and possess 

 a rough, staring coat; tubercles are ultimately formed in the 

 lungs, the mesenteric glands become enlarged, and the passage 

 20 



