DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 565 



perhaps to give a gentle cathartic draught. If called to a cow 

 suffering from the early stages of the disease, the veterinarian 

 will probably abstract blood, and he will probably administer a 

 full cathartic dose, at whatever stage he finds his patient. A 

 ■combination of sulphate of magnesium and solution of aloes 

 forms a useful cathartic mixture. The most assiduous care is 

 requisite throughout the course of the malady. The suffering 

 animal should be supported by bundles of straw, kept warm 

 by being covered with rugs, the udder should be regularly 

 milked, and the body should be well rubbed. Ice-bags or cold 

 water may be suitably applied to the forehead, and diffusible 

 stimulants should be somewhat freely administered. A strong 

 stimulating liniment should be rubbed along the spine. Enemas 

 may be frequently given, and the urine should be drawn off 

 by the aid of a catheter from time to time. 



Medicines should be given by means of the stomach-pump, 

 whereby the tympany will also be relieved. Gruel diet, or at 

 any rate easily digestible laxative food, should be supplied. 

 After recovery the animal may still suffer from paraplegia, and 

 if this is not amenable to the action of tonics, and the applica- 

 cation of absorbent agents and blisters over the spine, the 

 animal should be slaughtered and used for food, if the flesh is 

 suitable for this purpose. 



Our readers will understand that milk- fever is to be dis- 

 tinguished from ordinary fever occurring after parturition, and 

 called parturient fever ; also from septic peritonitis, adynamia, 

 and simple metritis. Puerperal mania may now and again 

 occur a few days after parturition, being probably due to 

 exposure, dyspepsia, and to removal of the calf from the cow. 

 The animal is very excitable, champs with the jaws, gnaws at 

 objects which may be near, and especially its own fore-legs. The 

 careful administration of opiates is to be recommended in these 

 cases. 



SECTION VII.— TEE UBINABY SYSTEM AND THE 

 BISOBDEBS CONNECTED THEBEWITH, 



The various derangements to which the kidneys of animals are 

 liable are by no means the least important of the innumerable 

 maladies which may afflict them. Especially is it the case that, 

 in so far as our subject bears upon the preservation of the health 



