CHAP. i. RED WATER. 558 



the system may be upheld by such agents as nux vomica in powder, or 

 gentian and columba in the form of a decoction. The diet should be 

 light and easy of digestion. Small quantities of food often repeated 

 are better than full rations. Exercise will prove a valuable adjunct to 

 medicinal treatment. 



RED WATEB, BLACK WATER, WOOD EVIL, OR MUIR ILL. The 

 disease commonly known as red water is so called from the red or 

 reddish-black appearance presented by the urine. This discoloration 

 is due to the presence of the red colouring matter of the blood, 

 which has escaped from the vessels with the tytine in the act of 

 secretion. 



The disease is essentially one affecting the blood itself, causing the 

 red corpuscles to break up, and their coloured contents to become 

 mixed with the serum or water in which they are suspended. The 

 immediate cause of the affection until recently was obscure. It is known 

 to prevail mostly in the spring and autumn. Cows recently calved are 

 particularly susceptible to it and suffer most severely. Although some 

 herbs and other members of the vegetable kingdom do occasionally 

 cause illness, accompanied by a dark or red condition of the urine, true 

 red water is due to minute organisms, called " piroplasms," which gain 

 access to the blood, being usually conveyed by means of certain ticks 

 which actually penetrate the red cells of the blood, causing their 

 destruction and escape of colouring matter as already mentioned, this 

 colouring matter being eliminated by the kidneys. 



It has been observed that the tendency of an attack is to cause 

 derangement of the liver and to impair digestion, but in what particular 

 way the blood changes are induced cannot at present be precisely stated. 

 It may well be, as has often been stated, that feeding on undrained 

 pasture often leads to the contraction of the disease. 



Symptoms. In this disorder there is dulness and great prostration, 

 the movements are feeble and unsteady, the limbs tremble and the 

 muscles twitch. The coat stands on end, and the skin is chilled. The 

 dew is absent from the muzzle, and the mouth is dry and clammy. 



Impaired digestion is shown by looseness of the bowels, which is soon 

 followed by constipation. The membrane of the mouth, and that 

 lining the eyelids, are pale and bloodless. Palpitation of the heart 

 is very pronounced in some cases, and dulness may be succeeded by 

 great excitability and even delirium. Urine is frequently and freely 

 discharged. In colour it is sometimes red, at others of the colour of 

 porter. If boiled it becomes thick and muddy, and throws down a dense 

 precipitate of albumen. 



Treatment. The affected animals should be housed, and covered 

 with a warm rug or blanket. A dose of Epsom salts, with a little 

 ginger, may then be given to empty the bowels and relieve the 

 oppressed liver. This should be followed by small repeated doses 

 of turpentine, with nitric ether, given in well-boiled linseed-cake gruel. 

 A plentiful supply of strorfg linseed tea should be allowed, and, if 

 necessary, horned into the patient several times daily. Where the 



