52 I N F L A M M A T I O OF THE BOWELS. 



When the animal appears to be doing well, he must ver)' slowly 

 be permitted to return to his usual food. He should for some weeks 

 be put into short and scanty pasture; the seton sliould be continued 

 in the dewlap, and occasional doses of Epsom salts administered. 



CHAPTER XI. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS, WITH COSTIVENESS. 



Inflammation of the bowels is by no means an uncommon disease 

 among neat cattle, and frequently proves fatal to them from injudi- 

 cious treatment. It is a complaint easily recognisable on account of 

 the peculiar symptoms by which it is attended. 



The animal is continually lying down and getting up again imme- 

 diately, and, when up, he strikes at his belly with the hind feet. 

 The bowels are obstinately constipated : the dung, if any is voided, 

 is in small quantities — hard, covered with mucus, and that sometimes 

 streaked with blood — and the urine is generally voided with difficulty. 

 The pulse is quicker than natural, and there is much heaving at the 

 flanks. 



It is distinguished from colic by the great degree of fever that evi- 

 dently attends it, the muzzle being dry and the mouth hot. The 

 animal becomes speedily weak, he falls or throws himself down sud- 

 denly, and when he rises he does it with difficulty, and he staggers 

 as he walks. The lowness and weakness appear more speedily and 

 decidedly than in almost any other disease. 



The attack is sudden like that of colic. The animal quits his 

 companions, and hides himself under the hedge. If he is in the 

 plough, he all at once becomes deaf to the voice of the driver, and 

 insensible to the goad. He trembles all over — his skin becomes hot 

 — his ba'^k and loins are tender — his ears and horns hot. Everything 

 indicates the highest degree of local inflammation and general fever. 



The disease mostly arises from sudden exposure to cold ; and espe- 

 cially when cattle go into rivers or ponds after being heated and 

 fatigued. It is sometimes produced by change of pasture, and feed- 

 ing too much on dry and stimulating diet. 



The first thing to be done, and that which admits of no delay, is to m 

 bleed ; from six to eight quarts of blood at least should be taken 

 away. Immediately afterwards the purging drink (No. 15, p. 57) 

 should be administered, and its effect promoted by half-doses of 

 No. 2, given every six hours. This is a very dangerous disease, and 

 the measures pursued must be of the most decisive kind. The symp- 

 toms succeed each other rapidly, and if one day is suffered to pass 

 without proper means being taken, the beast is irrecoverably lost. 



Tiic third stimach or manyplus will generally be foimdj after 



