CATTLE. 



the lime or potash, or soda, will be liborated ; yet no danger results 

 fronQ the presence of this corroding acid and caustic alkali ; for there 

 is a chemical affinity bet^^een them which will be soon exerted, and 

 the harmless and inert muriates of lime or potash, or soda, be 

 produced. Hence resulted one of the most important improvements 

 in cattle-medicine that modern times have produced. 



There are several other medicaments which have been found of 

 great service in this disease, such as lime-water, potash, hartshorn, 

 and particularly sulphuric ether. About an ounce and a half of 

 hartshorn may be given in a pint and a half of water, unless the 

 symptoms are so urgent as to threaten immediate suffocation : then 

 the flexible tube, if at hand, should be used ; or, if not, the trochar, 

 or the knife, plunged into the flank. If the symptoms should denote 

 any inflammation, ether will be preferable as a medicine, as it 

 promptly condenses the gases : an ounce m;iy be given in a pint of 

 water. If the symptoms are produced by green food, there is less 

 probability of inflammation than if the food has been previously 

 <iry. 



The chloride of lime is as good as either of the others, and should 

 always be in the possession of the farmer and practitioner, not only 

 for this purpose, but because, in cases of foul, fetid ulceration, and 

 gangrene generally, it is the most powerful disinfectant, and the most 

 useful stimulant that can be applied. The proper and safe dose is 

 two drachms of the powdered chloride of lime dissolved in two 

 quarts of water, and injected into the paunch by means of the sto- 

 mach-pump. This may be repeated an hour afterward, if circum- 

 stances should appear to require it. 



The trocliar will then supersede the use of the knife and the lancet, 

 when, under circumstances of emergency, the practitioner may be 

 compelled to act promptly ; for, by the continuance of the tube in 

 the wound, some of the distant and unsuspected results of the com- 

 mon method of puncturing the rumen may be avoided ; but when 

 the practioner is near home, or can obtain speedy access to his sto- 

 mach-tube and pump, the trochar will be completely discarded. 



The animal having been relieved, and the gas ceasing to distend 

 the paunch, a pound of Epsom salts should be administered with an 

 ounce of carraway powder, and half an ounce of ginger ; and, on 

 several successive mornings, four ounces of Epsom salts, two of 

 pcwdered gentian, and half an ounce of ginger should be given. 

 The object of the practitioner, or the owner, should be to restore, 

 as speedily and as effectually as possible, the tone and action of the 

 rumen. The return of the process of rumination will show when 

 that is beginning to be eft'ected, and rumination will usually precede 

 the desiie to eat. 



Attention should for some time be paid to the manner of feeding. 

 A mash should be daily allowed, and the pasture on which the beast 



