THEBLOOD,&C. 85 



swelling, and a crackling noise in some tumefied part, a cure is seldom 

 effected. Bleedinrr, at this stage of the complaint, can seldom be 

 resorted to, or, at least, one moderate bleeding only should be prac- 

 tised, in order to subdue any lurking fever that may remain. If a 

 cure is in these cases attempted, the drink No. 13, p. 54, should be 

 given, which may invigorate the system by its cordial and tonic 

 powers, and prevent the mortification extending. 



The swelled parts should be frequently bathed with equal portions 

 of vinegar and spirits of wine, made as hot as the hand will bear; or, 

 if ulceration seems to be approaching, slight incisions should be 

 effected along the whole extent of the swelling, and the part bathed 

 with spirit of turpentine made hot. 



If ulceration has commenced, accompanied by the peculiar fcetor 

 that attends the disease, the wounds should be first bathed with a 

 disinfectant lotion. 



RECIPE (No. 34). 



Disinfectant Lotion.— Take solution of chloride of lime in powder, a quarter of an 

 ounce ; water, a pint. Mix. 



The hot spirit of turpentine should be applied immediately after 

 this, and continued in use until either the mortified parts have slough- 

 ed oflT, or the sore begins to have a healthy appearance. The tincture 

 of aloes or Friar's balsam may then follow. 



Since so little can be done in the way of cure, we next anxiously 

 inquire whether there is any mode of prevention. The account which 

 I have given of the disease immediately suggests the prevention, viz., 

 to beware of these sudden changes of pasture; now and then to take 

 a little blood from, or to give a dose of physic to, those beasts that 

 are thriving unusually rapidly, and, whenever the disease breaks out 

 on the farm, to bleed and to purge, and remove to shorter and scantier 

 feed every animal that has been exposed to the same exciting causes 

 with those that have been attacked. The farmer should be particu- 

 larly watchful during the latter part of the spring and the beginning 

 of the autumn : he may thus save many a beast, and the bleeding and 

 the physic will not arrest, but rather assist their improvement. He 

 who will not attend to a simple rule like this will deserve the loss 

 that he may experience. 



CHAPTER XX. 



MURRAIN, OR PESTILENTIAL FEVER. 



This is not the fever which I have just described, more rapidly, 

 and to a greater extent, assuming the typhoid and malignant form, 

 although there is a considerable similarity between the diseases, but 

 it is distinguished by some peculiar and fatal characters. It has from 

 time to time destroyed immense numbers of cattle on every part of 

 8 



