220 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



Feed on laxative food, and give astringents, as for jaun- 

 dice, to restore the digestive organs to their usual tone 

 and action. We think that ashes and cider would be 

 excellent. [See pages 118 and 119.] Saltpetre, in doses 

 of an ounce, is good. Change the food, and remove all 

 cause of disease. Small doses of sulphur are good. 



Another. Take milk, and bring it to a curd with 

 rennet ; mix it with ash leaves and nettle seeds chopped 

 fine. Give it in food, or put it down the throat. 



Another. Give a junk bottle full of train oil. This 

 is recommended for dry murrain. 



BLACK LEG, OR BLOOD. 



This disease is also called Quarter Evil, Black Quarter, 

 and Blood Striking. It is mostly confined to young cattle, 

 between one and two years old. But some of three, 

 four, and older, have been attacked with it. Cows giv- 

 ing milk, and lean cattle, generally escape. It is most 

 common in the spring or early summer, when the feed 

 is luxuriant, and in the fall. 



Cause. Very high feed, by which the animal im- 

 proves too fast, producing a redundancy of blood and 

 powerful inflammation. It is most likely to attack ani- 

 mals suddenly changed from poor to high feed. In 

 England, it is sometimes produced in winter by high 

 feeding on turnips. It prevails most in low, marshy 

 pastures, and in woodlands. Fatigue and exhaustion 

 from long journeys, previous to high feed, is a cause. 

 Owing to the general use of highland pastures in this 

 country, this disorder is not so common here as in Eu- 

 rope. Acrimonious or poisonous plants and unfavora- 

 ble atmosphere are influences, but are not the principal 

 causes. 



Symptoms. Dry muzzle, hot breath, protruding eyes, 

 extension of the head ; heaving of the flanks ; quick and 

 hard pulse, and every symptom of high fever. He 

 moans lowly ; is half unconscious ; wild ; stands for 

 hours motionless, or only moves by compulsion ; there 

 is a peculiar staggering in the hind limbs, and in one 

 more than the other. He shifts his weight from one 



