DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 461 



DYSENTERY. 



Causes. This disorder commonly arises from suppressed per- 

 spiration, induced by exposure to sudden changes of weather, 

 especially when it has been previously fine and warm. Cattle 

 that are over-heated by driving, and turned into a pasture at 

 night, where they lie down upon wet grass, are sometimes attacked 

 by it. These causes produce the complaint, by occasioning a 

 peculiar inflammation of some parts of the bowels. 



Symptoms. This complaint is accompanied by an inflamma- 

 tory fever and griping pains, and is sometimes termed the bloody 

 ray. The discharge of dung is frequent, emitting an offensive 

 smell, and is often mixed with the mucus, or natural lining of 

 the bowels. It is very similar to the disease of horses called 

 molten grease. 



Cure. Copious bleeding should first be applied, and a pint of 

 castor oil be taken afterwards. Should the animal not appear 

 relieved, in some degree, in six hours, the pulse remaining quick, 

 and the under surface of the eyelid particularly red, the bleeding 

 must be repeated. After the symptoms have been subdued, the 

 animal will be very weak; and consequently, every exertion 

 must be used to support its strength. For this purpose, oat- 

 meal gruel, or gruel made with wheaten flour, and malt mashes, 

 may be given freely. Should the discharge be considerable, 

 bleeding would be injurious: the castor oil, however, is com- 

 monly necessary ; and, if it cannot be easily procured, sweet oil 

 or melted lard should be substituted. Gruel formed of arrow 

 root, is an excellent drink in this complaint. If the disease 

 should still continue, half an ounce, or six drachms of tincture 

 of opium may be given in arrow root gruel. 



If calves are improperly managed at the time of weaning, 

 they are liable to a severe diarrhoea, which, if not attended to, 

 very frequently proves dangerous. Flour milk gruel, with a 

 little prepared chalk, is the best remedy for this complaint; a 

 drachm of ginger, and from half a drachm to a drachm of tinc- 

 ture of opium, may be added in very obstinate cases. 



THE FOULS. 



This complaint in cattle is somewhat similar to canker in the 

 horse, and generally produces a discharge of fetid matter from be- 



