618 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



swollen in the belly, and is either greatly constipated or, as \\& 

 have above said, discharges whey. Occasionally, after death has 

 taken place in such cases as these, the stomach has been found 

 to contain as much as three or four pounds of this coagulum. 

 It has been recommended that ammonia diluted with a large 

 quantity of water, together with Epsom salts and ginger, should 

 be administered to animals suffering in this way. 



Perhaps the most usual cause of diarrhoea is the ingestion of 

 young and succulent grasses, or perhaps a sudden change from 

 a hot atmosphere to a cold one. As soon as the disease begins, 

 the animals should, so far as it may be practicable to do so, be 

 instantly removed from the pastures whereon they are grazing 

 to older or drier keeping or food. Usually the eyes will be found 

 to look heavy and the wool unnatural, while the step is sluggish 

 and devoid of the elasticity of health. If so, a drench made up 

 of half an ounce of Epsom salts, together with half a drachm of 

 ginger, should be given, or, as a substitute for this, one fluid 

 ounce of castor oil mixed with half a pint of gruel may be admi- 

 nistered ; and if great straining or much pain, or both, be 

 exhibited, twenty drops of tincture of opium may also be given 

 mixed with gruel. The lambs should be very carefully sheltered 

 in a suitable place, well housed and nursed, and kept warm, and 

 fed on dry food. If the diarrhoea still continues, and the bowels 

 have been cleared as a consequence of the aperient drench, it 

 will then be best to administer astringent medicines. If the 

 disorder continues after twenty-four hours have elapsed, and if 

 it is accompanied by the manifestation of pain and the discharge 

 of much mucus, and by a loss of appetite, there will be some 

 room for apprehension as to the result. 



Mr. Youatt recommends that a mixture be made containing 

 one ounce of prepared chalk, half an ounce of powdered catechu, 

 two drachms of powdered ginger, half a drachm of powdered 

 opium, and half a pint of peppermint water. The dose of this 

 is from one to two tablespoonfuls at morning and at night. If 

 the diarrhoea should prove to be of an obstinate character, the 

 lamb ought to be removed from the mother, and it may possibly 

 be found expedient to feed the little animal with cow's milk which 

 has been boiled. The above preparation may be given until it, 

 together with proper care and good nursing, has effected a com- 

 plete cure. In the case of lambs, the complaint of which we are 



