DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 371 



way seed, may be dissolved in a couple of pints of warm water, 

 and administered with an ordinary drinking-horn. We may here 

 mention that a horn, the base of which is cut oif so as to make 

 fi long ovoid opening, is the most suitable vessel for employ- 

 ment in drenching cattle. The animal's head should he raised 

 a trifle above the level by the garthman who stands on the left 

 side, while the administrator pours the medicine into the 

 pouch which he forms by drawing aside the cheek on the 

 opposite side. 



If the head be elevated much above the horizontal, there is 

 risk of choking the animal, and it is therefore best to administer 

 medicine in the way directed, and to allow the animal time to 

 swallow each mouthful before giving a second. For this reason 

 we prefer the horn to the drinking-bottle, which holds a pint to 

 a pint and a half, seeing that with the horn it is possible to 

 give a few fluid ounces at a time, and rapidly, and to allow the 

 animal to take its own time in swallowing. Of course the bottle 

 may be used, if care be taken not to give the medicine too 

 rapidly. In fact, the bottle should be removed from the mouth 

 at frequent intervals of time. 



The diet should be very carefully regulated ; at first it should 

 be light and nutritious, consisting of mashes, hay, grass, or 

 other green food ; in the later stages, when the febrile symptoms 

 have abated, plenty of good food is essential, the malady being 

 of a very debilitating nature. The animal should be well 

 bedded, as very frequently, especially in the case of cows, the 

 recumbent posture is generally maintained in the febrile stage. 

 The bedding should be frequently changed to keep the animal 

 as dry and clean as possible. Twice daily, a drench, consisting 

 of salicylate of sodium four drachms, bicarbonate of potassium 

 one ounce, may be given in a pint of water for four or five 

 days, or as long as the acute symptoms last. In more chronic 

 cases half an ounce of nitrate of potassium may be given instead 

 twice daily in water. In very acute cases, British pharmacopoeial 

 tincture of aconite in doses of twenty minims may be given with 

 salicylate of sodium and bicarbonate of potassium. Oil of tur- 

 pentine is a favourite popular remedy for the more chronic cases 

 of rheumatism ; but it is not of great value. 



Regarding local treatment, the affected joints, if very painful, 

 should be fomented with warm water, and liniment of turpen- 



24 * 



