184 DISEASES OF YOUNG CALVES. 



mucus; sometimes it is bloody, and often fetid; the animal loathes 

 its food, staggers as it walks, and becomes rapidly thin. Towards 

 the last stage of the disease the dung is more and more fetid and 

 bloody, a greater portion of mucus mixes with it, and at length the 

 discharge seems to be composed of mucus and blood, with scarcely 

 any mixture of natural fecal matter. When this occurs there is little 

 or no hope of cure. 



The principal thing is to treat these diseases in time, before the 

 mucous coat of the intestines becomes so inflamed that a bloody dis- 

 charge ensues which soon wears the animal down. 



Much acidity in the stomach and bowels attends all these com- 

 plaints; therefore, it is necessary to get rid of it, first of all, by the 

 administration of a mild purgative, and afterwards by the exhibition 

 of chalk, or some other medicine with which the acid will really 

 combine. Two ounces of castor oil, or four of Epsom salts, may be 

 given. 



Opium in some form or other must always be united with the 

 chalk. It is of no use to get rid of one complaint when others are 

 lurking and ready to appear. It will not be sufficient to neutralize 

 the acidity of the stomach ; the mouths of the vessels that are pour- 

 ing out all this mucus and blood must be stopped; and we have not 

 a more powerful or useful medicine than this in our whole catalogue 

 of drugs. It acts by removing the irritation about the orifices of the 

 exhalent vessels, and when this is effected they will cease to pour 

 out so much fluid. Other astringents may be added, and a carmina- 

 tive mingled with the whole to recall the ap])etite, and rouse the 

 bowels to healthy action. The following medicine will present the 

 best combination of all these things : — 



RECIPE (No, 62). 



Take prepared chalk, two clrachms ; powdered opium, ten srrains; powdered cate- 

 chu, half a drachm ; ginger, half a drachm ; essence of peppermint, tive drops. Mix, 

 and give twice every day in half a pint of gruel. 



This will be the proper dose for a calf from a fortnight to two 

 months old. If the animal is older the dose may be increased one- 

 half. The common Dalby's Carminative is not a bad medicine, 

 although a dear one, and may be given in doses of half a bottle at a 

 time, when it happens to be at hand, and the case is urgent, and the 

 drugs which compose Recipe No. 62 cannot be immediately pro- 

 cured. 



When these preparations have been given some time, and have 

 failed to stop the purging, I have known the following given with 

 very good effect : — 



RECIPE (No.63). ■ 



Take Dover's powder, two scrni)!ps ; starch, or arrow-root, in powder, one ounce ; 

 compound cinnamon povv(!(;r, oik; drachm ; ])owdercd kino, half a drachm. J?oiI the 

 starch or arrow-root iu a pint of water until it becomes well thickened, and then 

 gradually stir in the other ingredients. 



This may be given morning and night. 



