372 CATTLE. 



ticularly in the change that takes place in that blood when drawn 

 from the vein. 



The fluid discharged from the kidneys participates in the general 

 change ; it becomes yellow — yellow-brown — brown. The change 

 is most evident here, because so great a quantity of blood, in pro- 

 portion to the size of the organ, circulates through the kidneys ; and 

 more particularly it is evident here, because it is the office or duty 

 of the kidneys to separate from the blood, and to expel from the 

 circulation, that which is foreign to the blood, or would be injurious 

 to the animal. 



The bile, however, possesses an acrid principle to a considerable 

 degree. While it is an excrementitious substance that must be got 

 rid of, it stimulates the intestinal canal as it passes along in order to 

 be discharged ; it particularly does so when it is secreted in undue 

 quantities, or when its quality is altered. There is abundant proof of 

 this in the bilious irritation and diarrhoea which cattle so frequently 

 exhibit. The kidney, at length, is evidently irritated by the con- 

 tinued presence of this diseased fluid : it becomes inflamed, its mi- 

 nute vessels are ruptured, and a red hue begins to mingle wiih the 

 brown. There is found discoloration and increased size of the kid- 

 ney, and pain in the region of that organ ; this, however, is rarely 

 carried to any considerable extent, and the seat and principal ravages 

 of disease are to be clearly traced to a different part, namely, the liver. 



It is evident, then, that acute and chronic red-water, as the authoj 

 of this treatise has termed them, (for he did not, in the present state 

 of our knowledge of cattle medicine, dare to deviate too far from the 

 usual arrangement and designation of disease,) are essentially diff"er- 

 ent maladies : they belong to different organs — they are character- 

 ized by diff"erent symptoms — they require diff"erent treatment. The 

 first is inflammation of the kidney ; it is characterized by the evident 

 pain and fever, and by the red and bloody urine which accompanies 

 it in an early stage ; it requires the most active treatment, and it 

 speedily runs its course. The second is inflammation of, or altered 

 secretion from, the liver ; not often accompanffed in its early stage 

 by pain or fever ; characterized by the dark brown color of vitiated 

 bile, and more slowly, but as fatally, undermining the strength of 

 the constitution. 



As to the first step in the treatment of chronic red water, the 

 propriety of bleeding depends on the condition of the beast, and the 

 degree of fever. An animal in high or in fair condition can never 

 be hurt by one bleeding ; while, on the contrary, lurking, decep- 

 tive, fatal febrile action may be subdued. If there be the slightest 

 degree of actual fever, nothing can excuse the neglect of bleeding. 

 The quantity taken, or the repetition of the abstraction of blood, 

 must be left to the judgment of the practitioner. 



