CATTLE. 



DIARRHCEA AND DYSENTERY. 



The distinction between these two diseases, and it is of essential 

 importance to observe it in the treatment of cattle, is, that diarrhoea 

 consists in the evacuation of faecal matter, in an undue quantity, and 

 more than naturally liquid form. In dysentery, more or less mucus, 

 or mucus and blood combined, mingles with faeces. 



The frequent and abundant evacuation of faecal matter, whether 

 with or without mucus, may be considered either as simple, or con- 

 nected with other diseases. In its former state it will be the sub- 

 ject of present coiisideration, and may be regarded as acute or 

 chronic. Acute diarrhoea may be produced by various causes ; — the 

 abuse of purgatives, by their being administered in too active a form 

 — feeding on certain poisonous plants — sudden change of food, gen- 

 erally from dry to green aliment, but occasionally from green to dry 

 — excess of food — the drinking of bad water — or by some humid and 

 unhealthy state of the atmosphere. From the last cause it usually 

 assumes an epizootic character, particularly in autumn. A great 

 many cows in a certain district are suddenly attacked by it, although 

 there is no reason to suspect that it is in the slightest degree conta- 

 gious. 



Calves and milch cows are far more subject to this species of in- 

 testinal inflammation than are full grown or working oxen. 



The proper treatment of acute diarrhoea will consist in the ad- 

 ministration of a mild purgative, in ordt^r to carry off any source of 

 irritation in the intestinal canal ; the abstraction of blood, if there 

 be any degree of fever, and in proportion to that fever ; and then the 

 exhibition of alkalies and astringents. The most eff"ectual medicines 

 are prepared chalk, opium, catechu, and ginger, in the proportions 

 of one ounce of the first, one drachm of the second, four drachms 

 of the third, and two of the last, in each dose, and to be adminis- 

 tered in thick gruel. 



This will generally be successful : but, occasionally, these acute 

 cases of diarrhoea are obstinate and fatal ; and too often it happens 

 that what has been represented to the practitioner as a sudden 

 attack turns out to be the winding up of some chronic disease, and 

 he does not discover the mistake until it is too late. 



Diarrhoea is not always to be considered as a disease. It is often 

 a salutary effort of nature to get rid of that which would be inju- 

 rious ; or it is a somewhat too great action of certain of the di- 

 gestive organs, which soon quiet down again to their natural and 

 healthy function. An occasional lax state of the bowels in calves is 

 known to be favorable to the acquirement of fat ; and a beast that 

 is well purged on being first turned on spring-grass or turnips, 

 thrives far more rapidly than another that is little, or not at all, 

 aff"ected by the change. Diarrhoea, in some critical stages of disease, 



