57^ MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



If a change of food does not prove effectual, give the 

 animal half-an-ounce of prepared chalk in a pint of cow's 

 milk, slightly warmed. If the purging has not been sub- 

 dued by this, it may be repeated on the second day. If the 

 discharge is very great, and accompanied by symptoms of 

 pain and straining, two drachms of rhubarb may be given, 

 as a first dose, and chalk as a second. If this has not the 

 effect of relieving the animal, then from tw^enty to thirty 

 drops of laudanum may be given with advantage, and after- 

 wards the chalk, as above recommended. 



DYSENTERY. 



SYxMPTOMS. — This complaint is distinguished from the 

 last disease by being always accompanied with fever, and 

 other symptoms of an inflammatory condition of the in- 

 testines, whereas diarrhoea is generally a state of simple 

 irritation or weakness of the bowels. In dysentery there 

 is great pain, frequent gripings, especially when at stool ; 

 the matter discharged is in hard balls, accompanied by 

 mucous blood, and often purulent matter from the bowels. 

 Sheep affected with dysentery have generally the wool 

 clapped, with a languid expression of eye, the mouth dry, 

 and rough skin, with a greatly accelerated pulse. When the 

 disease is in an advanced state, the fasces are very black 

 and fetid. The animal eats very little, and is rendered 

 incapable of ruminating. This complaint frequently ends 

 fatally. 



Remedies. — The treatment of dysentery should be com- 

 menced with blood-letting, in greater or less quantity, ac- 

 cording to the condition of the animal and the severity of 

 the disease. Mild laxatives should be persevered in, and 

 emollient injections, until symptoms of recovery become 

 manifest. After bleeding, give the animal from twenty-live 



