DISEASES OP THE OX AND SHEEP. 341 



avoided. The salt, acetate of ammonium, or the nitrate or the 

 chlorate of potassium may be administered in suitable doses in 

 solution. In itself delirium is not necessarily a sign of very 

 grave danger ; but when delirium is continued, and when it is 

 accompanied by severe vomiting and diarrhoea there is much need 

 for apprehension. If the patient is low, the pulse quick, soft, and 

 feeble, and if coryza be present, wine should be given, together 

 with full doses of carbonate of ammonium in milk every four 

 hours. Some recommend ammonia in large doses frequently 

 administered, some advise the administration of diluted hydro- 

 chloric acid, or the perchloride of iron. Ice is often given to 

 allay vomiting. In order to relieve the soreness of the throat, 

 ice or the inhalation of steam or warm milk, slowly swallowed,* 

 or astringent or antiseptic gargles may be used. 



If the throat is much inflamed, the patient should be allowed 

 to dissolve lumps of ice in the mouth. Ice can be given to 

 patients above five or six years of age. Another plan of treat- 

 ment in case of inflamed throat is the inhalation of steam. 

 PuflPy swelling of the neck may in some cases be removed by 

 external applications of spougiopiline wrung out from hot 

 water, or of hot linseed meal poultices frequently renewed. If 

 coryza is manifested, it should be treated as soon as possible. 

 An ounce of salt may be dissolved in a pint of warm water, 

 and this solution contained in a vessel, raised a little above 

 the head of the patient, is conveyed by means of a flexible 

 caoutchouc tube into one nostril, respiration being carried on 

 through the mouth, and all attempts at swallowing being for- 

 bidden. The fluid passes out freely by the other nostril. In 

 young children the nasal fossae may be syringed with a weak 

 solution of nitrate of silver (gr. v. to oz. i.) once a day when the 

 coryza is troublesome. If there is much constipation, the 

 bowels should be relieved by laxatives ; while, if there be 

 diarrhoea, opium or some astringents may be given. Some 

 authors advise that the body be kept well greased during con- 

 valescence, in order to prevent the dissemination of the flakes 

 of the cuticle; but others recommend that it should not be 

 used, on the grounds that it stops the pores of the sweat-glands 

 and so helps to cause nephritis. Warm baths may be employed 



* It is, however, very diflScult for a person suffering from sore throat to 

 swallow slowly. 



