556 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vi. 



Treatment. In most instances of this ailment the symptoms are due 

 to the lodging in the alimentary canal of some irritant which will 

 require to be got rid of. For this purpose a dose of castor oil or 

 linseed oil may be given in conjunction with a small dose of tincture 

 of opium. Should the flux still continue, astringent and antiseptic 

 medicines must be prescribed, such as a combination of chalk, kino, 

 opium, nutmeg and creosote. Where the disorder is of long duration, 

 and the prostration considerable, brandy or whisky may be added to 

 the prescription. While the attack continues, solid food must be 

 replaced by starch gruel, or a plentiful allowance of linseed tea, to 

 which may be added a little carbonate of soda. 



DYSENTEEY OR BLOODY FLUX. In this disease the lining membrane 

 of the bowels is the seat of a destructive inflammation resulting in 

 ulceration and sloughing of the tissues of the gut. 



It has its origin in various causes, and is sometimes the result of 

 chronic diarrhoea. Water largely polluted with sewage, when taken for 

 long periods and especially in the summer months, has on several 

 occasions been known to produce it, and it is also said to arise out of 

 the ingestion of innutritions provender, decomposing vegetable matter, 

 and certain contagious germs. 



Symptoms. Dysentery may assume an acute or chronic form. In the 

 first case it usually comes on suddenly, and is attended with fever and 

 more or less severe abdominal pain. The dung is discharged fre- 

 quently, and, as in diarrhoea, it is of a semi-fluid or watery character, 

 but in addition to faecal matters it also contains blood and mucus, with 

 stinking shreds of dead tissue from the diseased bowel. The passage 

 of the faeces is attended with pain and straining. The existing fever 

 is marked by a dry hot skin with " stareing " coat, clammy mouth, dry 

 muzzle, and an, increase of the temperature of the body. The appetite 

 is lost, and, unless relief is aiforded, emaciation and exhaustion soon 

 end in death. In the chronic form of the disease the symptoms are 

 much the same as those stated, but are more gradual in their develop- 

 ment and protracted in their course. 



Treatment. It is rarely the case that complete success attends the 

 treatment of dysentery. The ulceration and sloughing of the intestine 

 so far impair the function of digestion as to establish a chronic 

 irritability of the bowel, which tends to emaciate and weaken the patient 

 beyond recovery. At the outset of the disorder a mild dose of castor 

 oil may be administered with a small quantity of tincture of opium. 

 This should be followed every eight hours by a draught containing 

 carbolic acid, glycerine, and catechu, to which a further quantity of 

 opium may be added if abdominal pain is considerable. The food 

 should consist of the most nutritive and digestible material. Scalded 

 oatmeal, boiled carrots or turnips, boiled linseed, malt meal and cake 

 gruel are among the best forms of aliment. If the emaciation is con- 

 siderable, a little sound beer or whisky may be administered with the 

 gruel three times a day. A clean well-ventilated stable is much to be 

 desired in cases of this description. 



