Diseases, Parasites, &C.307 



were entirely stall-fed. Goats in young that are attacked 

 .by this disease invariably slip their k^ds prematurely, and, 

 this further exhausting them, they rarely recover. 



TREATMENT. With regard to treatment, Mr. A. J. 

 Sewell, in a paper on this subject read at a meeting of 

 the British Goat Society some years ago, recommended 

 as follows : " Having first warmly housed the patient, 

 which is very necessary, a mild dose of purgative medicine 

 should be given. I say a mild dose, because the bowels, 

 being in a relaxed condition, are more easily operated 

 upon than if constipation were present This medicine is 

 given with the idea of removing any irritating matter that 

 may be present in the intestines. Linseed oil and Epsom 

 salts it does not matter which is given will do. The 

 dose of oil for an adult goat of moderate size is from 

 ijoz. to 2 oz. ; the dose of Epsom salts is about i oz. This 

 is best given in a little warm oatmeal gruel, the oatmeal 

 assisting the action of the medicine. After the purgative 

 medicine has had time to operate, astringents must be 

 given. The following is what I have used with the best 

 success, namely, powdered catechu, chalk, and gum, of 

 each Jdr. ; powdered ginger, isc. ; and powdered opium, 

 6gr. This is one dose, and should be given in a little 

 wheaten-flour gruel, and be repeated two or three times 

 a day, according to the severity of the diarrhoea. As the 

 diarrhoea lessens, the doses should be gradually decreased. 

 It is a bad plan to discontinue the medicine directly the 

 diarrhoea appears to have stopped, for a recurrence of it 

 is often the result. The dose for kids (of the pur- 

 gative medicine as well as the astringent) is from one-third 

 to half of that recommended for adult goats. When the 

 diarrhoea is obstinate I have given bark with very good 

 results. I have also given this medicine, if the appetite 

 is very bad, after the diarrhoea mixture has been discon- 

 tinued, as it acts as an astringent as well as a good 



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