iO 



Dysentery, 14 



When the case is chronic, with pain, tenderness and tym- 

 pany of the bowels, and a slight wearing fever, one of the 

 most useful substances is nitrate of silver : — 



No. 129. Nitrate of silver, 5 grains. 



Opium, ^ drachm. 



This amount in a ball of bread crumbs or linseed meal twice a day, 

 gradually increased to double the dose if the disease does not yield. 



The diet is always of importance. Bran or meal mashes 

 made with linseed tea or slippery elm bark tea are suitable. 

 Boiled food is better than uncooked. Large quantities of 

 water should not be given at once, but small quantities often 

 repeated. In chronic cases, if the animal is fed exclusively 

 on shim milk for a week or two, it will sometimes effect a cure 

 without other aid. 



DYSENTERY, BLOOD FLUX, COLinS. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the lining membrane of the 

 large intestine near the rectum, accompanied with straining, 

 discharge of blood and fever. 



Causes. — Poisonous and irritating food, exposure to cold 

 and overwork, putrid and stagnant water, are quoted as 

 causes. It is a rare disease among horses, but common 

 enough in cattle, among whom it is sometimes epidemic. 

 Some kinds of pastures seem particularly Yiahle to bring it 

 on, and hence it has been known as "moor ill,^^ "wood evil," 

 and other such names. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms differ in the acute or sudden, 

 and the chronic or long standing forms of the complaint. 



Acute dysentery begins with pain in the lower bowel 

 indicated by the animal raising or arching its back, a watery, 

 bloody discharge from the rectum, which has an offensive 

 smell and is expelled with pain and straining, and the pres- 

 ence of shivering followed by quick pulse, a haggard eye, 

 great dulness, thirst, rapid emaciation and debility. The 



