EPIDEMIC CATARRH. 251 



intestinal canal. The discharge is oflfensive to a high degree, the 

 breath loses its peculiar and beautiful scent, and the vital powers are 

 rapidly exhausted. 



In most of these epidemics, the first attack seems to be made on 

 the powers of organic life, and soon afterwards the animal system 

 shares in the deleterious influence. The beast is unwilHng to move ; 

 it scarcely can move ; it staggers as it walks. It loses flesh every 

 day ; the coat stares, and clings to the bones ; the appetite is quite 

 gone; a fetid discharge commences from the mouth and nostrils, 

 and death soon follows. 



The treatment of this disease in ivi early stage, and when alone it 

 can be treated with reasonable hope of success, may be character- 

 ized under two words — promptitude and vigor. The state of inflam- 

 matory fever which accompanies the early period of the disease is in- 

 tense ; and unless arrested, it will (as we have seen in ti-eating of that 

 disease) speedily exhaust every vital power ; therefore, fever existing, 

 bleeding is imperative. The quantity of blood to be abstracted will 

 be regulated by the intensity of the inflammation, the apparent ap- 

 proach or commencement of debility, and the efi'ect produced while 

 the blood continues to flow. All of these circumstances should be 

 most carefully attended to. If the fever rages, the ox will bear to 

 lose much blood, and uniformly with manifest advantage. If the state 

 of debility is evidently approaching, or has even commenced, bleed- 

 ing, regulated by the pulse, and stopped the moment that that fal- 

 ters, wfll generally be beneficial : but debility being established, or 

 the bleeding carried on after the p^^lse has forbidden it, the abstrac- 

 tion of blood will only hasten death. 



Aperients should undoubtedly be administered, accompanied or 

 not by aroraatics, or the p-oportion of the aromatic regulated by 

 the preponderance of fever or debility. The sulphate of magnesia 

 will be preferred ; and early recouree should be had to the stomach- 

 pump, in the manner which has been already described, should the 

 phvsic seem to accumulate in the paunch. 



The other medicines will also be regulated by the symptoms. 

 While fever continues, digitalis, emetic tartar, and nitre will be indi- 

 cated. When the febrile stage is passed, spirit of nitrous ether, 

 laudanum, gentian, and ginger will be indicated. The cow-house 

 should be warm, yet well ventilated. Mashes should be given, and 

 green meat of eveiy kind, and this changed daily, if necessary, in 

 order to humor the capricious appetite of the patient. The strength 

 being a Uttle renovated, the beast may be turned into some 

 pasture, close at hand, for a few hours during the middle of the 

 day. 



Homoeopathic treatment. — The principal means to be employed in 

 such cases, as well as in the case of cough in general, are : dulca- 

 mara and hry mia, in the cough which has succeeded to a cold ; «*Mt 



