CATTLE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



»57 



that are feeding, or in good condition ; for 

 a fullness of blood in the system renders 

 them more liable to the complaint. 



Sometimes inflammation of the kidneys 

 proceeds from external injuries, suah as a 

 violent bruise across the loins, in conse- 

 quence of other beasts ramping on them, 

 or a severe blow in the region of the kid- 

 neys. 



The discharge of bloody urine may 

 either proceed from inflammation 01 the 

 kidneys or a rupture of some of the blood- 

 vessels, and in either case blood is dis- 

 charged with the urine, and may be often 

 detected in clots; whilst in the other kind 

 of red-water, although the urine is dark 

 in color, it does not contain blood. The 

 former disease is more frequent with bulls 

 and oxen, and the latter with milch cows. 



When the kidneys are inflamed, and 

 the animal evinces tenderness on pressing 

 the loins, the treatment should consist of 

 blood-letting, purging, and the applica- 

 tion of sheep-skins and stimulants to the 

 loins. But in some cases where blood is 

 discharged with the urine without any in- 

 flammatory appearances, the exhibition of 

 Astringents and Stimulants (See No. 

 20 Domestic Animals, Medicines for) 

 have effected a cure. 



True Red Water is a disease of the di- 

 gestive organs, principally of the liver; 

 and the dark color of the urine is owing 

 to the presence of vitiated bile, probably 

 loaded with carbon, and not to blood, as 

 used to be supposed. 



The more frequent causes are connect- 

 ed with the nature of the pasture. There 

 are some fanns or particular parts of the 

 farm, where red-water is almost sure to 

 follow when cattle are turned upon them. 

 Low marshy grounds are apt to produce 

 it, and also pastures with much woodland, 

 and especially in the latter part of au- 

 tumn', when the leaves are falling. Some 

 have said that elm-leaves are apt to cause 

 red-water ; others attribute the disease to 

 the oak ; and many more to some of the 

 numerous species of ranunculuses that 

 abound in our marshy and woodland pas- 

 tures. The truth of the matter, however, 

 is, that no one knows what plant is most 

 concerned in the affair; and all that the 

 farmer can do is to observe what pas- 

 tures most frequently produce red-water, 

 and at what season of the year, and to use 



them as much as he can for other stock 

 in the dangerous seasons. 



A removal from a poor to a luxuriant 

 pasture, or from a low marshy situation to 

 a dry and lofty locality, are frequent 

 causes of red-water; and it often occurs 

 after a long succession of dry weather. 



Cows that are dried of their milk are 

 often attacked by it, when put into luxu- 

 rious pasture, while, perhaps, it does not 

 affect those that are still milked. The 

 reason of this is plain enough : the super- 

 fluous nutriment not being carried off by 

 the udder in the form of milk, the digest- 

 ive organs are deranged, and the secre- 

 tions of the liver become vitiated. 



A cow that has once had an attack of 

 red-water is very liable to a repetition of 

 the complaint. The farmer is obliged to 

 take a great deal of care properly to 

 manage the change, of pasture with her, 

 and, notwithstanding all his care, she will 

 probabably have two or three attacks of 

 the disease every year. It will behoove 

 him to consider how far it is prudent to 

 keep such an animal. No beast that is 

 subject to periodical complaints of any 

 kind should be kept, for it may easily be 

 prepared for the butcher, and disposed of 

 with little or no loss to the farmer. 



The symptoms of red-water are at first 

 purging, which is usually followed by con- 

 stipation; the appetite is impaired; the 

 pulse and breathing quickened ; and the 

 former, though bounding at the heart, is 

 often weak. The membranes of the nos- 

 trils and eyelids are pale, and the legs 

 cold; the milk is diminished and rumina- 

 tion ceases. The urine, from being 

 brown, often becomes black, and the dis- 

 ease is, in this state, often denominated 

 black-water. 



The red and the black water are diseases 

 that require prompt and careful treat- 

 ment; for, although, in some slight cases, 

 the beast does not seem to be much af- 

 fected by either, and works or yields her 

 milk as well as ever, yet ere long it preys 

 upon the constitution, and the animal 

 gradually wastes away. 



It is folly to wait in order to see wheth- 

 er nature will effect a cure. Except in 

 beasts suddenly put upon more than 

 usually rich pasturage, it never is or can 

 be a salutary discharge. It must be prey- 

 ing upon the system and wasting the 

 strength, and the sooner it is got rid of 



