RED-WATER. 67 



as well as ever, yet ere long it preys upon the constitution, and the 

 animal gradually wastes away. 



It is folly 10 wait in order to see whether -nature will effect a cure. 

 Except in beasts suddenly put upon more than usually rich pasturage, 

 it never is or can be a salutary discharge. It must be preying upon 

 the system and wasting the strength, and the sooner it is got rid of 

 the better. It attacks milch cows oftener than others, and it is more 

 injurious to them than to others. While it lasts, it often materially 

 lessens the quantity of milk, and, even after it is removed, the animal 

 is slow in returning to her former strength. 



The first thing to be done is to remove the cause of the disease. 

 The pasture should be changed. A more open and a drier situation 

 should be found, and where the grass, although succulent and nutri- 

 tious, is not very plentiful. If there is considerable fever, or the 

 animal should appear to be really ill from the discharge, she should 

 be taken under shelter, and fed on mashes, Avith a very little hay; or 

 a few turnips or carrots may be allowed her if they are in season. 



Bleeding is often necessary at the onset of this disease, but it 

 should always be practised with moderation, and in many crises ab- 

 stained from altogether. About two hours after bleeding, the follow- 

 in"- drink should be administered : — 



RECIPE (No. 21). 



Takeepsom, or glaubcr salts, one pound; pin^^er, half an ounce; carbonate of am- 

 monia, half an ounce. Pour one quart of boiling water upon the ingredients, stir 

 them well, and give when new-milk warm. 



A quarter part of this drink may be given every six hours, until the 

 bowels are freely opened, and the medicine may be assisted by clys- 

 ters. The successful treatment of the disease very much, or altoge- 

 ther, depends on early and thoroughly opening ihe bowels. If this 

 is early accomplished, the animal will almost certainly recover. If it 

 is neglected, or the constipation cannot be overcome within the first 

 two or three days, the termination will probably be fatal. 



When the bowels are properly acted on, mild stimulants may be 

 exhibited, such as — 



RECIPE (No. 22). 



Take ginger, one drachm ; gentian, one drachm ; and spirit of nitrous ether, one 

 ounce. Mix, and give in a pint of gruel. 



If, with the amendment of the other symptoms, the urine should 

 appear black, a diuretic, — such as one ounce of nitre, — may be given 

 with the above drink, or even the more powerful stimulant, spirit of 

 turpentine, in doses of one or two ounces. 



If, after the bowels have been well opened, and the fever is some- 

 what abated, the discharge of blood still continues, and in as great a 

 quantil}'- as before, it will be right to have recourse to astringents, yet 

 such as will not irritate and stimulate the kidneys; and even these 

 should be administered cautiously. Constipation attended the early 

 and most violent stage of the disease — some remission, at least in the 



