274 The Care of Animals 



of light sorrel, buckskin or dun color are more subject 

 to diarrhea than those of more decided colors. 



As diarrhea is an effort of nature to remove an 

 irritant, it follows that it should not be checked too 

 suddenly. First, locate and remove the cause. A small 

 dose (about two ounces for horses and cattle, and a 

 half ounce for calves) of castor-oil combined with an 

 ounce of laudanum, and given as a drench with a little 

 linseed gruel is excellent. For calves and lambs, a 

 small quantity of dried blood (one teaspoonful to one 

 tablespoonful), given in dilute milk or gruel three times 

 daily, w411 usually stop the trouble. For calves, it is 

 usually a good plan to dilute the milk with one -third 

 lime-w^ater, and to feed them frequently, but only small 

 amounts at a time. Parched flour added to boiled or 

 sterilized milk is also advisable. Lime-water can be 

 made by pouring water on fresh lime. After the 

 lime is slaked and settled, the water can be poured 

 off and used. Essence of Jamaica ginger well diluted 

 wdth hot ^vater is very good. In persistent cases, use 

 an astringent, such as oak-bark tea. This is made by 

 steeping the inner bark of white oak. For a horse, a 

 teacupful of this tea combined with an ounce of 

 laudanum should be given as a drench twice daily. 

 Horses that are subject to diarrhea while on the road 

 should be watered sparingly before and during the 

 drive. Prepared chalk in one -half to ounce doses twice 

 daily is useful in such cases. 



