MODERN FARRIER. 317 



bowels without undergoing the digestive process. 

 It is said that when the animals have been long 

 affected by this scouring rot, they feel a great de- 

 gree of distress and pain when grasped on each side 

 of the back-bone, just behind the shoulders; and 

 this is considered as a sure mark that the beast has 

 become tainted or unsound, from the scouring rot. 



Mr. White says, ' This disease consists in a fre- 

 quent discharge of dung, of an unusual colour, thin, 

 and slimy. The animal gradually loses flesh, but 

 continues for some time to feed well and ruminate. 

 At length the excrements become of a darker colour 

 and frothy, and in the latter stages have the appear- 

 ance of half-chewed food, the digestive power being 

 entirely lost. 



Causes. — The causes of this complaint appear to 

 be, generally, exposure to cold and rain, particularly 

 when the animal has been overdriven, or heated by 

 working immediately before. Drinking plentifully 

 of water, under similar circumstances, will also pro- 

 duce the disease. Want of nourishment, particu- 

 larly in cows that are constantly milked, often 

 causes the scouring rot. 



Cure. — In the treatment of this complaint in cat- 

 tle, a number of strange remedies have been em- 

 ployed, such as hog's dung, turpentine, and butter- 

 milk ; dock root boiled in salt and water, and nettle 

 root boiled in forge water. In Rowlin's Cow 

 Doctor, the following receipt is recommended : 



Bole armoniac, - - - 3 ounces. 



Bay berries, _ - _ 2 ounces. 



Alum, - _ _ - 2 ounces. 



Shavings of ivory, - - 2 ounces. 



Powdered comfrey root, - 2 ounces. 



Boiled in two quarts of skimmed milk, adding 

 while boiling a handful of starch. This is to be given 

 for a dose, for which, however, it is perhaps rather 

 too strong. Mr. Lawrence recommends, that on 



