228 DOMESTIC A2s^IMALS. 



of time, without the advantage of a marsh or pool in which to lave his 

 parched limbs and half-scorched carcass. Anoint the cracked parts 

 twice or thrice a day with tar and lard melted up together. | 



Ratille, or Swelling of the Spleen.— The symptom most positively in- 

 dicative of this disease, is the circumstance of the affected animal lean- 

 ing toward one side, cringing as it were, from internal pain, and bending 

 toward the ground. The cause of the obstruction on which the disease 

 depends is over-feeding, permitting the hog's indulging its appetite to 

 the utmost extent that gluttony may prompt and the capacity of its 

 stomach admit of; a very short perseverance in this mode of manage- 

 ment will produce this, as well as other maladies deriving their origin 

 from a depraved condition of the secretions and obstruction of the ex- 

 cretory ducts. 



On first perceiving the complaint, clear out the alimentary canal, by 

 means of a strong aperient. If you think you can manage it, you may 

 administer this forcibly, by having the mouth kept open by two cords, 

 that attached to the upper jaw being thrown across a joist, and drawn 

 just so tight as to compel the patiett to support himself on the extrem- 

 ities of his fore-toes; or allow the animal to fast for from four to five 

 hours, he will then take a little sweet wash or broth, and in it you may 

 mingle a dose of Epsom salts, proportioned to his bulk. This will 

 generally effect the desired end of a copious evacuation, and the action 

 of this medicine on the watery secretions will further relieve the existing 

 diseased state of the spleen. Many recommend bleeding ; and if the 

 affection have continued for any length of time, it should be resorted to 

 at once; when the disease is, however, discovered ere it has attained any 

 considerable head, the aperient will suflSce. The French veterinarians 

 recommend the expressed juice of the leaves and tops of wormwood and 

 liverwort to be given, half a pint for a dose. The decoction of these 

 plants produced by boiling them in soft water for six hours, may be 

 given in doses of from half a pint to a pint and a half, according to the 

 size, age, etc., of the patient. 



Scammony and rhubarb, mixed up in a bran mash, or with Indian 

 meal, may be given with advantage the following day, or equal portions 

 of blue-pill mass and compound colocynth pill, formed into a bolus with 

 butter, and the animal, having been kept fasting the previous night, will 

 probably swallow it; if he will not do so, let his fast continue for a 

 couple of hours longer. Lower the animal's diet, and keep him on re- 

 duced fare, with exercise, and if you can manage it, grazing, until the 

 malady has quite passed away ; if you then wish to fatten, remember 

 to do so giadually ; be cautious of at once restoring the patient to full 

 diet. 



Surfeit. — Another name for indigestion ; the symptoms are such as 

 might be expected — panting, loss of appetite, swelling of the region 

 ■about the stomach, etc., and frequently throwing up the contents of the 

 stomach. In general, this affection will pass away, provided it is only 

 permitted to cure itself, and all food carefully kept from the patient for a 

 few hours; a small quantity of sweet gwains, with a little bran-wash, 

 may then be given, but not nearly as much as the animal would wish to 

 take. For a few days the food had better be limited in quantity, and 



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