22 VETERINARY LECTURES 



also suitable doses of veterinary solution of nuclein may be injected 

 hypodermically, and repeated if necessary to increase the action of 

 the phagocytes or blood scavengers (pars. 43, 422, 423, and 426), 

 with nourishing gruels, linseed jellies, green food carrots, hay- 

 tea, etc. 



42. From these remarks it will be seen that from the various 

 constitutions and the different forms of disease which are met with, 

 and the great differences in their treatment, it is quite unsafe to start 

 and tinker with them unless the nature of the complaint is thoroughly 

 understood. My advice is this : In the first place, get a clinical 

 thermometer, which can be had from 2s. to 10s. each ; and, when 

 an animal is ailing, take its temperature, by passing the thermometer 

 into the rectum. If it rises to 104 or 105 (normal temperature of 

 the horse being ioo° to 101 ; cow, 101 to 102 ; sheep, 103 to 

 104 ), you should lose no time in calling in a qualified veterinary prac- 

 titioner, as the case may be looked upon as tending to be serious. Don't 

 think, because your neighbour had a horse, or cow in just the same 

 state — apparently — last w T eek, and some wonderful patent nostrum 

 cured it, that yours will be set all right with the same treatment. 

 Your neighbour's animal may have had one or two of the symptoms 

 similar to those exhibited in your case, but yours may have others 

 accompanying these, which can only be detected by the professional 

 eye. Don't waste time, money, and, perhaps, the animal as well, by 

 delay in such a case, but send at once for your veterinary attendant, 

 and, in the meantime, do as much to relieve the animal as possible, 

 such as putting it in an airy box, clothing well, bandging the legs, 

 etc. This of itself will often, both in the case of horses and cattle, 

 set them right, and the temperature will come down 2° or 3 by 

 simply putting them alone in a loose box. Animals, as a rule, when 

 ailing in the fields, get away by themselves in a quiet corner. Follow 

 their example ; but whatever you do, do' not start and tamper with 

 quack medicines, of the composition of which you know nothing, 

 and which may be exactly the reverse of what is required. Try and 

 find out which way Nature is working, and then do w r hat you can to 

 assist her. If you fail in this, send for your professional veterinary 

 adviser. 



