346 ACUTE DIAKEH(EA. 



the intestines of what otherwise, in all probability, would prove 

 a continuous cause of the malady. A purgative will irritate 

 the bowels ; and living tissues, when inflamed, should have rest — 

 rest being one of the primary conditions of cure. 



Diet. — The dietetic management relates more to the after- 

 treatment. An excellent rule is to keep the patient hungry 

 until the convalescent stage is fairly over. Peed the animal 

 upon boiled milk and bread, or upon the gruel mixture treated 

 upon at pages 68 and 73.* A small portion of corn, well-cooked, 

 and given in combination with bran, may also be allowed. 



The clothing should be regulated according to the breed of 

 the animal, the season of the year, and the comforts which sur- 

 round him. !For other particulars relating to these matters, see 

 Section YI., Page 108. 



ACUTE DIARRHOEA. 



Acute Diarrhoea is a disease which generally prevails during 

 the spring and summer months ; it is, however, occasionally 

 observed at other times. Its tendency, if improperly treated, 

 or otherwise mismanaged, is to terminate fatally, and that too 

 with a rapidity which is truly amazing ; nevertheless, if treated 

 in time and properly, and the subjects of it kept quiet, it will 

 generally be found of a very manageable nature. 



Symptoms. — The disease, in the generality of cases, com- 

 mences whilst the animal is travelling — he begins to purge, and 

 the motion which the body necessarily experiences during pro- 

 gression materially augments this purging, until at last, from 

 its violent continuance, he is obliged to be stopped and left at 

 at rest. At this stage of the disease the animal is in a state of 

 considerable danger. The pulse will either be extremely feeble 

 and thready, or totally suppressed, or perhaps a single thread- 



* See Note, page 68. 



