RED-WATER. 



flammation of the kidney, enlargement of it, turgescence of its vessels, 

 yet very rarely any considerable disorganization, and certainly not 

 so much affection of it as would be expected ; but in cows the uterus 

 exhibits much greater inflammation ; there is often ulceration, the 

 formation of fetid pus, and occasionally gangrene ; there is also 

 peritoneal inflammation, extensive, intense, with adhesions and effu- 

 sions, while the lining membrane of the bowels rarely escapes in- 

 flammation and ulceration. 



There can be little doubt about the treatment of such a disease. 

 There has either been an undue quantity of blood determined to the 

 kidneys, with much local inflammation, and before the pressure of 

 which the vessels of that organ have given way, or so much blood 

 has been always traversing the kidney, that there is a facility in set- 

 ting up imflammation there. Bleeding will be the first step indica- 

 ted. The first bleeding should be a copious one ; but the repetition 

 of it will depend upon circumstances. The haemorrhage, or bleed- 

 ing, is clearly active. It is produced by some irritation of the part : 

 its color shows that it procee Is from the minute arterial or capillary 

 vessels. When bloody urine f^ows from the kidney, that organ is 

 giving way under an increased discharge of its natural function, and 

 that function is increased in order to compensate for the suspended 

 one of another part, namely, the natural action of the bowels. Three 

 objects will be accomplished by venesection : the first, a diminution 

 of the general quantity of blood ; the second — a consequence of the 

 first — the removal of congestion in the part ; and the third is the 

 giving a different direction to the current of blood. 



Purgatives should follow, with a view more quickly and effectually 

 to accomplish all these objects ; and from the recollection of a cir- 

 cumstance most important to the practitioner, that red-water closely 

 followed the establishment of constipation. A pound of Epsom salts 

 should be immediately exhibited, and half-pound doses every eight 

 hours afterwards, until the bowels are thoroughly acted upon. 



There is too frequently great difficulty in purging cattle when 

 laboring under red-water : dose after dose may be administered for 

 three or four days, and yet the bowels will remain obstinately con- 

 stipated. Either there is a strange indisposition in them to be acted 

 npon, or, the rumen sympathizing with the derangrement of other 

 organs, the muscular pillars of its roof yield to the weight of the fluid, 

 whether hastily or cautiously administered, and the medicine enters 

 that stomach, and is retained there until the beast is lost. The 

 physic must be repeated again and again ; it must gently trickle 

 down the gullet, so that it shall fall on the roof of the paunch with 

 as little force as possible ; and after the second day, in spite of the 

 fever, unusual doses of aromatics must mingle with it, that the rumen, 

 or the intestines, or both, may be stimulated to action. In the ma- 

 jority of cases, and especiallv before the st. 3ngth of the animal be- 

 16* ' 



