INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 57 



heat of the sun, when cattle have heen turned into the fields where 

 there has been nothing to shade them from its influence. It may be 

 brought on by severe contusions on the head, or by the cattle being 

 harassed and frightened, when driven along the road or through large 

 towns. 



Very few weeks pass in the metropolis in wliich cattle are not 

 driven into a state of absolute madness, either by the brutality of the 

 drovers, or by a set of miscreants whose sport it is to abuse and infu- 

 riate the animal, and endanger the lives of the passengers. 



The chief or the only cure is bleeding. The neck vein should be 

 opened, on each side, if possible, and the blood should be suffered to 

 flow until the animal drops. It is absurd to talk of quantities here; 

 as much should be taken as can be got, or, at least, the blood should 

 flow until the violence of the symptoms is quite abated. 



To this a dose of physic should follow. The following may be 



administered : — 



RECIPE (No. 15). 



Ji Strong Physic Z)ru?t.— Tako, Epsom or Glauber's salts, half a pound; tlie kernel 

 of the croton nut, ten grains: take off'the shell of thecroton nut, and weigh the pro- 

 per quantity of the kernel. Rub it down to a tine powder; gradually mix it with 

 half a pint of thick gruel, and give it, and immediately afterwards give the salts, 

 dissolved in a pint and a half of thinner gruel. 



If the violence or even the wandering should remain, another bleed- 

 ing should take place six hours afterwards, and this also until the 

 pulse fakers; and the purging should be kept up by half-doses of the 

 powder (No. 2, p. 47). 



Although it is very difficult to produce a blister on the thick skin 

 of the ox, it should be attempted if the disease does not speedily sub- 

 side. The hair should be closely cut or shaved from the upper part 

 of the forehead and the poll, and for six inches on each side down the 

 neck, and some of the following ointment w^ell rubbed in : — 



RECIPE (Ko. 16). 



Blister Ointment.— Take, lard, twelve ounces; resin, four ounces; melt tliem toge- 

 ther, and, when they are getting cold, add oil of turpentine, four ounces ; and pow- 

 dered cantharides, five ounces; stirring the whole well together. 



When the blister is beginning to peel off, green elder or marsh- 

 mallow ointment will be the best application to supple and heal the 

 part. A little of it should be gently smeared over the blistered sur- 

 face morning and night. 



A seton smeared with the above ointment may be inserted on each 

 side of the poll in preference to the application of a blister. 



Although the violence of the disease, and of its remedies, will ne- 

 cessarily leave the beast exceedingly reduced, no stimulating medi- 

 cine or food must on any account be administered. Mashes and 

 green meat, and these in no great quantities, must suffice for nourish- 

 ment, or, if the animal, as is sometimes the case, is unable to eat, a 

 few (juarts of tolerably thick gruel may be horned down every day; 

 but ale and gin, and spices, and tonic medicines, must be avoided as 

 downright poisons. There is not a more common or a more fatal 



