Texas Cattle Disease, 283 



spleen is uniformly enlarged^ the weight varying from two to 

 ten pounds. It is of a j^urplish color, and on cutting it the 

 pulp oozes out, it being soft, like currant jelly. From this 

 condition of the spleen, which was found in nearly 6,000 

 cases. Prof. Gamgee calls the disease " the splenic fever." 



While not stating positively an opinion on its cause, he 

 does assert that all the cattle in the States bordering on the 

 Gulf of Mexico, for a distance of two or three hundred 

 miles inland, are affected with malaria ; that they have " ague 

 cake " and thin blood, and more or less distm^bance of the 

 stomach; and it is this low tone of the system which he 

 conjectures, leads to an imperfect development of the blood, 

 and the generation of a " crowd poison," highly injurious to 

 other members of the same species not under the influence of 

 the same conditions. He does not consider it a true epizo- 

 otic or contagious disorder, but one conveyed by the excre- 

 tions of the animals (the dung, urine, etc.,) containing poison- 

 ous matters. 



Treatment. — The animal should be put in a roomy stall 

 where the ventilation is good, and should have soft food. 

 Internally he should be given twice or three times a day : — 



No. 316. Chlorate of potash, ^ oz. 



Tincture of chloride of iron, 1 oz. 



Water, 1 quart. 

 Mix, and give at one dose. 



When the weakness becomes considerable he should have 

 whisky freely. 



As soon as the most dangerous symptoms are passed the 

 food should be light and plentiful, and tonics be admin- 

 istered, as : — 



No. 317. Sulphate of iron, ^ oz. 



Tincture of ginger, 1 oz. 



Watei-, 1 qt. 



This amount twice daily. 



