BLACK QUARTER IN CATTLE AND SHEEP. 305 



parts of the body, such as in the liver, kidneys, beneath the 

 mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, and within the 

 cranial cavity. 



It is important to notice, that in very rapid cases, or when 

 animals are slaughtered in the early stage of the disease, it is 

 only one of the fore or hind quarters which indicates the 

 disease of which the animal has died. The other three 

 quarters may and have often been sold as sound meat. 

 Kecently I was consulted as to the disease in a number of 

 yearlings, and though these animals were not very fat, the 

 only traces I could get of those that had died previous to my 

 visit were the fore limb of one and the hind quarter of 

 another. These had been buried, and were exhumed for my 

 inspection, but the remaining part of the bodies had been 

 sold to a butcher. 



Prevention and Treatment. Black quarter amongst 

 young stock has been successfully prevented by proper 

 drainage, by keeping up the condition of young animals 

 with oil-cake, and by the use of purgatives and setons. In 

 districts where the disorder has been very rife, farmers have 

 experienced great benefit from the administration, once a- 

 week, to each animal, of half-an-ounce or an ounce of nitre 

 in food. 



The majority of cases prove fatal, and the most active 

 antiphlogistics fail. Indeed, the active bleeding which 

 Youatt so strongly recommends, often hastens death, unless 

 practised in the very earliest stage of the disease. Purga- 

 tives and carbonate of ammonia should be freely admin- 

 istered. The local swellings should be opened up and the 

 wounds made dressed with chloride of zinc lotion. Sul- 

 phite of potash and stimulants may be administered in 

 ample doses every two or three hours until the animal seems 



VOL. n. 30 



