*5* 



CATTLE— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



however, purging be present from 

 the first, a tew ounces only of Epsom 

 salts should be given, but a drachm each 

 of calomel and opium, repeated twice a 

 day ; and if the purging continue the case 

 may be treated as one of diarrhoea. (See 

 Cattle, Diarrhoea.) The sides in this 

 disease should be blistered, and setons 

 may also be inserted. 



Inflammation of the liver frequently 

 leaves after it a great deal of weakness, 

 and tonics are clearly indicated. The 

 best medicine that can be given is (See 

 No. 13, Domestic Animals, Medicines 

 for.) 



No hay, and light corn, should be 

 given in inflammation of the liver; but 

 the diet should consist of mashes and 

 green meat. 



It has been stated that fat beasts, or 

 such as are in good condition, are very 

 liable to this disease, and particularly 

 those that have been fed mnch on oil- 

 cake. It is more frequent in hot than in 

 cold weather, and in store cattle that 

 have been over-driven, or worried in 

 woodland pastures by the flies. Sudden 

 change of weather; the exposure to con- 

 siderable cold, of a well-fed beast that 

 had been well housed, or indeed anything 

 that has a tendency to excite fever, will 

 produce inflammation in an organ that 

 has been over-worked, or is disposed to 

 disease from the undue secretion of bile 

 in the rapid accumulation of flesh and fat. 

 Chronic inflammation of the liver is char- 

 acterized by symptoms similar but more 

 moderate than those detailed. The de- 

 bility gradually increases, and death often 

 succeeds. The same treatment should 

 be pursued, with the exception of bleed- 

 ing. 



CATTLE, the Yellows, or Jaundice. — 

 This is a far more common disease than 

 the last, and almost as dangerous, bedause, 

 although it is not marked by any acute 

 symptoms, or accompanied by much fever, 

 it creeps on insidiously, and fastens itself 

 on the constitution, beyond the power of 

 medicine to eradicate it ; or it is the con- 

 sequence and the proof of some disease 

 of the liver, which is equally difficult to 

 cure. It may be produced by inflamma- 

 tion of the liver, or too great secretion of 

 the bile, or stoppage of the vessels 

 through which the bile should flow into 

 the bowels. If its passage is obstructed, 



it is thrown back again upon the liver, 

 and there taken up by the absorbents, 

 and carried into the circulation, and com- 

 municates a yellow color to the blood ; 

 and as the blood, by means of capillary the 

 vessels, is carried to every point and part 

 of the body, so the yellow hue of the dis- 

 ease spreads over the whole ot the frame. 



This obstruction is sometimes effected 

 by the undue thickness of the bile ; some- 

 times by hardened bile or gall-stones; 

 and in not a few cases it is caused by a 

 greater secretion ot bile than can find its 

 way into the intestines, and which, con- 

 sequently, accumulates in the liver, until 

 it is taken up by the absorbents, and car- 

 ried into the frame in the manner that has 

 just been described. 



At the beginning of the disease there is 

 considerable dulness and languor, and loss 

 of appetite. The cow wanders about by 

 herself, or is seen standing by the side of 

 the hedge or the fence in a most dejected 

 manner. The quantity of milk is gener- 

 ally lessened ; the bowels are costive; and 

 the fore-teeth are sometimes loose : milch 

 cows are more subject to it than oxen, and 

 particularly in the latter end of the year. 

 Sudden change of weather frequently 

 gives rise to it, and especially if the ani- 

 mal has previously exhibited symptoms of 

 ill-health. 



The treatment and the hope of cure 

 depend upon the causes and degree of 

 the disease, and which should be most 

 carefully ascertained. If it has followed 

 symptoms of fever, probably indicative of 

 inflammation of the liver, it may be diffi- 

 cult to remove, because it is an indication 

 of the ravages which disease has made in 

 the organ. Should the pulse be strong 

 as well as quick, moderate bleeding will 

 be judicious, but not otherwise. The 

 bowels should then be freely opened by 

 means of the purging drink (No. 2), and 

 kept open by half doses of it administered 

 as occasion may require. In this disease, 

 oftener than in any other to which cattle 

 are subject, stomachics are useful to rouse 

 the digestive organs to their proper tone 

 and power. Mingled with them, or at 

 other periods of the day, medicines may 

 be given which are supposed to have a 

 direct effect on the liver, and a tendency 

 to restore its healthy action; therefore, 

 while the tonic drink (No. 13) is given 

 in the morning, the drink for the yel- 



