THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 113 



of the stomach, its action is quickened at expenditure of power, 

 for all unnatural excitement of a natural function is followed 

 by a corresponding depression. 



A stimulant, and red herring may be classed as such, creates 

 a desire for food ; but then the animal may be laboring under 

 an acute disease of some organ, when food would be inad- 

 missible, or the stomach may be overburdened and unable to 

 digest what is already there, and therefore requires rest, as any 

 other organ would after long-continued action. 



The stomach is one of the most important organs, and per- 

 forms some of the most delicate operations in the animal econ- 

 omy ; its functions may be suspended from various causes, and 

 it is the province of the practitioner to learn and understand 

 the why and wherefore of its derangement. In many cases 

 the stomach craves no food because it cannot digest it ; and 

 merely creating an appetite by stimulants, is worse than use- 

 less, for whatever is then eaten cannot be converted into 

 chyme, nor can the lacteals take it up, and apply it to the 

 purposes of nutrition. 



Whenever an animal is suffering from disease, pain, or ex- 

 citement, there will often be absence of appetite (loss of cud), 

 and this function is suspended because the animal is drawn 

 from it by his sufferings. 



The real seat of sensation of hunger is in the brain, not in 

 the stomach alone, as some suppose ; the latter may first 

 communicate some such sensation to the brain, yet if that organ 

 be in a deranged condition, unable to recognize the want, then 

 ^e must impart healthy action to it, and establish an equilib- 

 rium between the nervous and general system, in order to 

 produce a natural appetite. Do you wish to know how to do 

 this? If so, study the veterinary art. That the appetite is 

 affected by the state of health, both of the body and mind, is 

 certain. Human practitioners realize that. " In fever, pain, and 

 in certain dyspeptic states, the stomach craves little or no food. 

 So in mental distress, in times of great fear, or sorrow, or 

 extreme anxiety, the appetite fails. Even in a single moment 

 10* 



