94 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



Causes. Diarrhea is a symptom of irritation of the intestines, 

 resulting in increased secretion or increased muscular contractions, 

 of both. The irritation is sometimes the result of chilling from ex- 

 posure, improper feeding, irritant foods, indigestion, organic dis- 

 eases of the intestines, or parasites. 



Symptoms. Passages from the bowels are frequent, at first 

 consisting of thin dung, but as the disease continues they become 

 watery and offensive smelling, and may be even streaked with blood. 

 At first the animal shows no constitutional disturbance, but later it 

 becomes weak and may exhibit evidence of abdominal pain by 

 looking around to the side, drawing the feet together, lying down, 

 or moving restlessly. Sometimes this malady is accompanied by 

 fever, great depression, loss of strength, rapid loss of flesh, and it 

 may terminate in death. 



Treatment. W nen the disease depends on irritating proper- 

 ties of the food which has been supplied to the animal, it is advis- 

 able to give a mild purgative, such as a pint of castor or linseed oil. 

 When the secretions of the bowels are irritating, an ounce of car- 

 bonate of magnesia and half an ounce of tincture of opium should 

 be shaken up in a quart of linseed tea and given to the animal three 

 times a day until the passages present a natural appearance. When 

 there is debility, want of appetite, no fever, but a continuance of 

 the watery discharges from the bowels, then an astringent may be 

 given. For such cases the following is serviceable : Tannic acid, 1 

 ounce; powdered gentian, 2 ounces; mix and divide into twelve 

 powders, one powder to be given three times a day until the pass- 

 ages present a natural appearance. Each powder may be mixed 

 with a half pint of whisky or blackberry brandy and a pint of water. 

 Tannopin is a new remedy that is most useful in such cases. The 

 dose is from 30 grains to 2 drams. Useful household remedies are 

 raw eggs, strong coffee, parched rye flour, or decoction of oak bark. 

 In all cases the food must be given sparingly and it should be care- 

 fully selected to insure good quality. Complete rest in a box stall is 

 desirable. When diarrhea is a symptom of a malady character- 

 ized by the presence of a blood poison, the treatment appropriate to 

 such disease must be applied. 



Croupous Enteritis. Under certain conditions severe irritation 

 of the digestive canal may, in cattle, cause a form of inflammation 

 of the intestines (enteritis) that is characterized by the formation 

 of a false membrane upon the surface of the lining membrane of 

 the intestines, and particularly the large intestines. 



Symptoms. There is fever, depression, loss of appetite, diar- 

 rhea, and in the fecal masses shreds of leathery false membrane 

 may be found. These shreds are sometimes mistaken for parasites 

 or for portions of the wall of the intestine. 



Treatment. Give a pound of Glauber's salts, followed by bi- 

 carbonate of soda in doses of 2 ounces four times daily. 



Constipation. Constipation is to be regarded rather as a symp- 

 tom of disease or of faults in feeding than as a disease in itself. It 

 occurs in almost all general fevers unless the bowels are involved 



