DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 383 



to open the bowels by the administration of sixteen ounces of 

 Glauber's salts dissolved in three gills of warm water, and to see 

 that the bowels continue fairly active. 



In many instances diabetes is due to indigestion, and in con- 

 sequence it is our practice to follow up this treatment by the 

 administration of drugs which will enhance the tone and activity 

 of the organs of digestion. With this end in view, one ounce to 

 one ounce and a half of bicarbonate of potassium or of sodium 

 may be given three times daily in the drinking-water, and a 

 draught containing half a fluid ounce of tincture of nux vomica, 

 one fluid ounce of spirit of ammonia^ and half a fluid ounce of 

 Bpirit of chloroform may be given in half a pint of warm water 

 twice daily for four days, then once daily for several days. 

 If this treatment be found ineffectual, iodine is the only 

 remedy likely to prove of value. It is given in drachm doses, 

 with two drachms of iodide of potassium and three drachms 

 of tincture of nux vomica, once daily, in three gills of water. It 

 may be continued for a week or ten days in bad cases. We have 

 not in this place to speak of indigestion and tympanites, excepting 

 in so far as they bear on diabetes ; but we shall treat of them in 

 detail later on. We may mention in passing, however, that 

 hyposulphite of sodium is the most valuable drug in cases of 

 simple tympanites in the cow. 



We have next to consider two diseases of the bones, due to 

 faulty assimilation, dependent upon dietetic and mal-hygienic 

 causes. The first of these is rickets. By this term we under- 

 stand a condition in which the bones, owing to defective ossifi- 

 cation, are soft, and, being incapable of bearing the weight of 

 the animal, become twisted and contorted in certain ways. 

 Bickets is essentially a disease of young animals. The disease 

 is abundantly common in young badly fed children, especially 

 those living in the slums and back alleys of our large smoky 

 towns. Kickets depends upon defective assimilation of food, 

 and the bones and other structures become deprived of their 

 proper supply of nutriment. Nutritious diet of a good and 

 wholesome kind, exercise in the open air, and thorough ventila- 

 tion of the shed, are the necessary remedies. Tonics, such as 

 the salts of iron and phosphates, may also be required. TJie 

 administration of phosphate of calcium, once daily, in the food, 

 is the best treatment for young calves, in which the disease is 



