Diarrhea in Calves, * 337 



calf. Heating the cow by driving or worrying her is another 

 common cause of deterioration of her milk, and renders it 

 injurious to the delicate bowels of the young calf. 



It is often best to begin the treatment with two or three 

 ounces of castor oil, in which a teaspoonful of powdered gin- 

 ger is stirred, as the gentle action of this laxative will clear 

 the bowels of irritating substances. When this is done, the 

 following will be found an admirable combination : — 



Ko. 385. Lime water, 



Infusion of gentian, of each 2 oz. 



Give this amount two or three times daily, to a feeble calf. 



The infusion of gentian is made by boiling one ounce of 

 bruised gentian root in a quart of water for ten minutes, 

 cooling and straining. 



Or the following will answer without the oil : — 



No. 886. Calcined magnesia, 4 drachms. 



Powdered opium, 20 grains. 



Powdered rhubarb, 2 drachms. 



Give in milk or linseed gruel. 



Either of these is better than the giving of astringents, as 

 some negligent practitioners do. These should be reserved 

 for cases where the above remedies, together with attention 

 to the mother and a change of diet, does not succeed. It mil 

 then be proper to give the following : — 



No. 387. Prepared chalk, 2 oz. 



Powdered catechu, 1 oz. 



Powdered opium, 2 drachms. 



Powdered ginger, 2 oz. 



Mix in a pint of sweet flag tea or peppermint water, and give a tea* 

 cupful once or twice a day. 



Strong teas of oak bark or willow bark, with the addition 

 of ginger, or sweet flag (calamus), are popular and useful re- 

 medies in such cases. 



I 



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