ox. 



the flanks, are sufficient proofs of it. 

 If this is early otjserved, a dose of 

 pliysic and one or two mashes will 

 usually set all right. At times, how- 

 ever, the attack is sudden and more 

 violent, and danger is evident from 

 the very commencement. The farm- 

 er recognises this affection by the 

 terms black-qicartcr, quarlcr-ill, blood- 

 sinking, &c. ; the beast is seen with 

 his head protruded, his nostrils ex- 

 panded, and his flank heaving, the 

 breath and horn hot, and the eyes 

 bloodshot ; there is a peculiar crack- 

 ling sound if the loins are pressed 

 upon, and the slightest pressure gives 

 extreme pain ; ulcers appear on vari- 

 ous parts of the body, and every part 

 seems tending to corruption. This 

 disease is sometimes epidemic, but it 

 is quite as often the consequence of 

 the fattening process being hurried 

 on too rapidly. In the early stage of 

 such a complaint the treatment will 

 consist of copious bleeding and brisk 

 purging ; these should be continued 

 untd they produce their effect, and 

 then some sedative medicine, as fox- 

 glove, or emetic tartar, administered 

 and persisted in until the disease is 

 evidently yielding. After this, some 

 mild stomachics, as gentian and gin- 

 ger, should be administered. 



" Too frequently, however, the 

 treatment has not been sufficiently 

 active, or was not commenced early 

 enough, and a peculiar low fever be- 

 gins to be apparent. There is dys- 

 entery, which no astringent will ar- 

 rest ; ulcers, which defy the power 

 of every disinfectant ; and the ani- 

 mal dies one mass of putridity. In 

 this stage of the disease, and also in 

 many of the complaints that have 

 been described, the assistance of an 

 educated veterinary surgeon should 

 be requested, for the treatment is 

 complicated and difficult to a great 

 degree. 



" The diseases of the respiratory 

 system require particular notice : 

 most frequent among them is cough. 

 It is too little regarded by the owner, 

 but it is often the unsuspected mes- 

 senger of consumption and death. 

 There is no rule of more universal 

 644 



application in cattle practice than 

 that a chronic cough is the forerun- 

 ner of everything that is bad. While 

 the beast feeds well, and the muzzle 

 is cool and moist, and the flanks are 

 quiet, the dairyman feels no alarm, 

 although he hears the cough almost 

 every lime that he enters the cow- 

 house. By-and-by, however, he finds 

 that the cow is losmg condition, 

 and her quantity of milk is evidently 

 duninishing, and he begins to think 

 that there is some necessity for at- 

 tending to the case. It is then too 

 late ; the seeds of consumption are 

 sown, and he must part with her im- 

 mediately, or she will pine away and 

 die. In every case of severe cough, 

 moderate bleeding and purgation 

 should be had recourse to, with warm 

 mashes and a comfortable cow-house. 

 The same treatment will apply to the 

 epidemic catarrh, which is sometimes 

 so prevalent. When this catarrh as- 

 sumes a malignant form, as in iimr- 

 rain, the treatment will be little dif- 

 ferent from that of black-quarter. 

 Sore throat, or inflammation of the 

 upper part of the throat and the back 

 of the mouth, should be treated as 

 cough, except that a blister or some 

 stiumlatmg application should be had 

 recourse to. The same may be said 

 of bronchitis, but there is a peculiar 

 form of It to which young cattle are 

 subject, and which bids defiance to 

 all medical treatment, namely, the 

 choking of the windpipe and passa- 

 ges of the lungs by an innumerable 

 host of minute worms. No medicine 

 will be of avail here. 



" Cattle are comparatively seldom 

 attacked by pure inflammation of the 

 lungs ; this disease principally occurs 

 when the beasts have been compelled 

 to travel too far or too fast, and when 

 they are exposed to sudden varia- 

 tions of temperature. It may be 

 known by the drooping head, the 

 heaving flank, the frequent painful 

 cough, the obstinate standing, the 

 hot mouth, and the cold feet. The 

 animal should immediately be bled 

 until the pulse falters. In all cases 

 of inflammation and danger, this is 

 the guide. No specific quantity should 



