430 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



arriving at a correct diagnosis, mistakes are frequent, and 

 the patient usually dies. Sodium, or magnesia sulphat., 

 should be giv- en in judicious quantities ; mineral acids should 

 also be tried, and followed by a course of tonics. The food 

 must be changed, and should consist of the best quality, 

 given in proper quantities and at regular intervals ; exercise, 

 if not over done, will be very beneficial; a radical cure can 

 never be made, but the patient by proper treatment may be 

 greatly benefited. 



Rupture of the Liver. — If the rupture be one of consider- 

 able extent, death will surely result within a short time, but 

 if the rupture be of small size, and the capsule remains 

 intact, recovery may take place. It is almost impossible to 

 diagnose the condition ; the treatment would be the internal 

 administration of styptics, perfect quietude, a course of 

 mineral acids, proper dieting, tonics, etc. The animal shows 

 more or less pain, the pulse is found to be irregular, and 

 rapidly running down. In cases where there is much inter- 

 nal hjDemorrhage, the mouth is cold and clammy, the body 

 and extremities become very cold, the mucous membranes 

 become blanched, cold sweats bedew the body, and as a rule 

 death quickly occurs. 



ROT IN SHEEP. 



The condition known as rot in sheep is due to the 

 presence of a parasite (' Distoraa hepaticum '), or common 

 liver fluke ; it occurs very rarely in the horse, or other 

 animals except cattle and sheep : the latter sufi"ering most 

 frequently. These parasites vary in size, from one-half, to 

 rather more than one inch in length, and are sometimes met 

 with two-thirds of an inch in width ; they live on the tissues 

 of their host, and consequently may produce fatal results. 

 They are the cause and not the result of disease, as some 



