26 THE NATURE AXD TREATMENT OF 



febrile symptoms, such as quick pulse and respirations, heaving 

 at the flanks, diy muzzle, glairy discharge from the nostrils ; 

 reddening of the visible surfaces; the limbs are generally colder 

 than usual, the hair loses its glossiness and appears roughened ; 

 the animal will occasionally snort and discharge more or less of 

 glairy mucus, and some soreness of throat may be observed. 

 Such are the early and most noticeable symptoms of this 

 disease, and this is the most proper period for the animal to re- 

 ceive attention, in order to prevent the malady running into the 

 chronic form ; for should it do so, ten chances to one if the 

 case is not called "horn-ail," and thus the poor animal has 

 to submit to a routine of barbarisms, such as boring horns, 

 letting daylight, pepper, and turpentine into the frontal sinusses 

 — much to the annoyance of a sick brute, and very significant 

 of the ignorance of the itinerant cattle slayer. 



Treatment of Catarrh. — The treatment depends somewhat 

 on the condition of the patient, as regards the preponderance of 

 fever or debility. A high-fed animal abounding in morbific 

 material, and necessarily of a febrile diathesis, must have 

 aperients : eight ounces of glauber salts, dissolved in warm 

 water and sweetened with molasses, may without the least 

 danger be administered, followed by a liberal supply of warm, 

 sloppy, bran mashes ; and should the pulse be voluminous and 

 excessively active, thirty grains of powdered nitre may be 

 •added to the above, which in all probability will reduce the 

 action of the heart. In the mean time we keep the patient quiet ; 

 withhold all fat and muscle-making food, and allow the patient 

 to breathe a pure and cool atmosphere; for a cool atmosphere is, 

 perhaps, a better sedative than nitre, and certainly more 

 requisite ; and after the medicine shall have had time to 

 traverse a portion of the intestinal surface, say a lapse of five 

 or six hours, an enema of glauber salts may be given, in the 

 proportion of half a pound to half a gallon of water. 



In the early stage, and having a plethoric subject under 

 treatment, it may by some persons be considered necessary to 

 resort to^the fleam, and some highly educated physicians de- 

 cide this to be the best course ; there may be cases occurring 



