272 DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



body is lessened by exposure to cold and wet ; hence the quarters 

 and feet swell, and it is this circumstance which has given rise 

 to the name by which the disorder is commonly known. The 

 approach of this complaint is generally indicated by the ani- 

 mal separating himself from his companions ; by his appear- 

 ing dull, listless, and heavy, and by his refusing food. The 

 more immediate symptoms are lameness, and swelling of the 

 hind quarters, and occasionally of the shoulders or back. 

 These swellings, when pressed, make a crackling noise. (See 

 Emphysema.) The mouth and tongue are frequently found 

 blistered in this disease. A spare diet, and keeping the animal 

 in a dry barn, are strictly to be attended to, with an occasional 

 dose of Distemper Powder, (see Appendix) and clysters of thin 

 gruel and common salt. By this means the disease may be 

 subdued. If the disease first appears in the foot, a charcoal 

 poultice must be applied. 



R 



Rack Bones. The vertebras of the back. 



Radius. The bone of the forearm. 



Raking. (See Back Raking.) 



Rectum. (See Intestines.) 



Red-Water. This disease often attacks cows, and is 

 named from the red appearance of the urine. The following 

 article, written for the Albany Cultivator, will give the reader 

 our views of the malady. The name is given to it from the 

 appearance of the urine, being only a symptom of general 

 derangement. " The ounce of nitre," recommended in the 

 article alluded to, " would act as an indirect diuretic, and make 

 the powerful animal weak ; it might, also, change the appear- 

 ance of the urine : at best, it would only be treating symp- 

 toms, and could not possibly contribute any thing towards 

 the cure. The observing man will recognize a derangement 

 of all the functions, a vitiation of every secretion, and a loss 

 of vital power. We lay it down as a fundamental principle, 

 that those who treat symptoms alone never cure disease, for 



