370 CATTLE. 



comes exhausted, the commencement of purging will he the signal of 

 recovery. 



It, nevertheless, too often happens, that the constipated state of 

 the bowels cannot be overcome, but the animal becomes rapidly- 

 weaker, while the blood assumes a darker, and sometimes a purple 

 or even a black color. The danger is now increased, and probably 

 death is not far distant. In many cases, however, the beast not be- 

 ing too much exhausted, the dark and coffee- colored urine is a favor- 

 able symptom, especially if it be discharged in evidently larger quan- 

 tities, and not so frequently. 



The appearance of the darker fluid, and even the continuance of 

 the florid red urine, when the fever has subsided to a considerable 

 degree, will indicate a different mode of treatment. The haemorrhage 

 will have become passive. The blood will flow because the vessels 

 have lost their power of contracting on their contents. It has then 

 been usual to give astringents ; but this is dangerous practice, for 

 the constipation, which is the worst symptom of the disease, and which 

 immediately preceded the red- water, and was, probably, the exciting 

 cause of it, may be confirmed or recalled. Stimulants, and those 

 which act upon the kidney, will be most likely to have beneficial 

 effect. The common turpentine, the balsam of copaiba, or even 

 spirits of turpentine, especially if it be guarded by the addition of a 

 few drachms of laudanum, may be given Avith advantage. The 

 weakened vessels of the kidney may occasionally be roused to close 

 on their contents, and the haemorrhage may be arrested. 



Chronic red-water is more prevalent than that which is acute, and, 

 in its first stage, is far more a disease of the digestive organs, and 

 especially of the liver, than of the kidney. The urine is observed to 

 be of a brown color, or brown tinged with yelloiv — the beast feeds 

 nearly as well as before, but ruminates rather more lazily. In a few 

 days a natural diarrhoea comes on, and the animal is well at once ; 

 or a purgative drink is administered, and a cure is presently effected. 

 This occurs frequently in cows of w^eak constitution, and in calves. 



At other times there is manifest indisposition ; the animal is dull, 

 heavy, languid — the ears droop — the back is bowed — she separates 

 from the herd — she refuses her food — she ceases to ruminate. 

 Presently she gets better — she rejoins her companions ; but this is 

 only for a little while. The urine, which at jirst was hroivn, with a 

 tinge of yelloiv, has noiv red mingling with the broum, or it is of the 

 color of 2)orter. It is increased in quantity — it is discharged some- 

 times with ease, at other times with considerable straining — in little 

 jets, and with additional bowing of the back. The milk diminishes 

 — it acquires a slight tinge of yellow or brown — the taste becomes 

 unpleasant — it spoils all that it is mingled with. The pulse is ac- 

 celerated — it reaches to 60 or 70. If blood be drawn, the serum 

 which separates from it is browr. The skin is yellow, but of a 



