G84 SPOEADIC DISEASES. 



scrambles up against the walls, and gives every evidence that it 

 is suffering pain of the most formidable character. 



The^os^; mortem reveals acute, gastro-enteritis, involving the 

 abomasum and small intestines, and in the rapidly fatal cases 

 the contents of the omasum are in a soft and normal condition, 

 — thus doing away with the idea that the disease is due to 

 impaction of the raaniplies (omasum) ; but if the disease has 

 been more prolonged before death or slaughter, it will then be 

 found that the food is hardened and the walls of the viscus 

 covered with small red or congested spots, " which," Mr. Clark 

 states, and I agree with him, " has given rise to the erroneous 

 opinion that the animal has suffered from obstinate constipation. 

 Such, I feel certain, is not the case, the hardened or dry con- 

 dition being the result and not the cause of the disease." Mr. 

 Clark thinks that the disease is induced by an irritant, being 

 also more or less narcotic in character, causing malassimilation 

 of food, and as a result non-nutrition of blood, accompanied by 

 inflammation of the true stomach and intestines, this being the 

 only constant morbid condition found on j)ost mortem inspection. 



The treatment recommended as tlie most successful is linseed 

 oil as a purgative, Epsom salts being highly objectionable, and 

 calculated to reduce the chances of recovery. A large per- 

 centage of cases are fatal, and bleeding has proved injurious. 

 When brain symptoms set in, benefit can be obtained by the 

 application of cold water to the head. 



When the animal is in good condition Mr. Clark advises 

 slaughter, and mentions that some farmers are under the 

 necessity of renting grass parks — permanent pasture — to tide 

 over the dangerous period of May and June. 



Professor Dick said he was successful in treating this disertse 

 by repeated bleeding, even to faintness, large doses of purgative 

 medicines given in large quantities of gruel, cold water to the 

 head, &c. He, however, considered the disease to be mere im- 

 paction. At the present time no one would think of pursuing 

 Such an irrational course in cases of acute gastritis ; and having 

 the knowledge that the constipation results from loss of function 

 rather than impaction, we will do well to recommend a 

 course of treatment calculated more to modify that inflam- 

 mation thaiii to overcome the seeming constipation. Por 



