SCROFULOUS OSTITIS. 168 



In order to promote a better tone^of the system, attention 

 must be paid to the state of the digestive organs. Diarrhoea 

 may be present, the faeces containing clots of curdled milk, 

 mixed with much mucus, fcetid in odour, and irritating to the 

 anus ; or the bowels may be constipated. In both conditions, 

 a very gentle laxative, as four ounces of castor oil, with two 

 drams of the bicarbonate of soda, may be given ; and when ' 

 the bowels are restored to their proper state, a pint of lime 

 water in a little milk two or three times daily, in addition to 

 half-ounce doses of the syrup of the compound phosphates or 

 " chemical food" twice per day. I can speak with great con- 

 fidence of the phosphates as being most beneficial in all debili- 

 tating diseases of young animals. Great care must be taken to 

 see that the patient suckles its mother sufficiently often, and 

 if he be unable to stand to do so, he must be lifted and held up. 

 If the mother has not sufficient milk, the deficiency must be 

 supplied with cow's milk, care being taken that this does not 

 constipate the bowels ; the addition of a small quantity of 

 sugar and water to it will be useful. The mother must rest 

 from work, and be supplied with good food ; a mixture of beans, 

 oats, bran, and grass if in season, will be most suitable. 



The lime water is recommended as an antacid. At one time 

 it was supposed to supply lime to the bones ; it is now held that 

 the bone diseases of the young are not due to the want of lime, 

 but to its elimination from the system by the kidneys. Autho- 

 rities, however, are divided upon this subject.^ 



Simulating this disease, both in its symptoms during life and 

 to some extent in the lesions found after death, is another aflfec- 

 tion of the articulations and bones, arising from the absorption 

 of septic matter, viz. — 



Omphalitis, 



Or inflammation of the umbilical cord, seen in very young 

 animals, particularly foals, a few days or a week or more old. 



In many instances the first noticeable symptom of this condi- 

 tion is a dribbling of urine from the umbilical cord. The urachus, 

 at first impervious, has again become pervious, allowing the urine 

 to escape, although the urethra is quite in a normal condition, 

 the animal having been seen to urinate in the natural manner. 

 In some instances the above symptoni isSy oe preceded by great 



