RED WATER. 49 



Occasionally diarrhoea is one of the first, and not an un- 

 favourable symptom. 



Post-mortem appearances. The emaciated body of a cow 

 that has died of red water is throughout devoid of blood, the 

 cavities of the heart itself are almost entirely empty, whilst 

 the condition of the blood-vessels would lead any one to sup- 

 pose the animal had been bled to death. Frequently, like in 

 other blood diseases, there are spots of extravasated blood or 

 occhymoses on the serous membranes, and particularly within 

 the heart, beneath its inner lining or endocardium. Occa- 

 sionally, the tissues of the body are yellow, the gall-bladder 

 is often full of bile, and the large intestine is distended by 

 dry hardened excrement. 



Treatment. Large quantities of good linseed tea. Warm 

 water clysters should be persevered with. If the discharge 

 of urine be very abundant and very much discoloured, half 

 a drachm of powdered opium may be given twice, with an 

 interval of six hours. The second day a bottle of linseed oil 

 may be given. When the animal recovers, there must be 

 a complete change of diet. 



Favourite remedies for this disease have been stimulants, 

 astringents, and a strong decoction of the common nettle. 

 The disease is never inflammatory, and blood-letting, though 

 recommended by some, is decidedly prejudicial. 



ATROPHY AND HYPERTROPHY OF KIDNEYS. 



Both the wasting and enlargement of the kidneys are 

 frequent conditions in the lower animals. Indeed the two 

 conditions may occur together, as the atrophy of one of the 

 organs leads to hypertrophy of its fellow, and not unfre- 

 quently the remaining organ has been found as much as 

 twice its natural size. 



Atrophy of the kidneys is met with most frequently in the 



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