406 CATTLE. 



permit the medicine to come more effectually into contact with the 

 coats of the stomach. The waim water would also stimulate the 

 stomach to contract, and thus get rid of a portion of its contents, 

 either by vomiting or purging. In the first case, there would be 

 room for the exhibition of more purgative medicine ; in the other, 

 the effect most of all desired would have been obtained. 



The rumen will often annoy the practitioner in another way in this 

 complaint : either on account of a vitiated secretion in that stomach, 

 or from the retention of the food, which, exposed to the united influ- 

 ence of Avarmth and moisture, begins to ferment, there will be con- 

 siderable extrication of gas, and the animal will swell with even more 

 rapidity and to a greater extent than in simple hoove. The flanks 

 should immediately be punctured, or the probang introduced, in 

 order to permit the carburetted hydrogen to escape. A dose of the 

 solution of the chloride of lime, as already recommended under 

 " Hoove," should be given, to prevent the extrication of more gas ; 

 and a greater quantity of aromatic and fever medicine should be 

 added to the purgative, th^it the stomach may be roused to healthy 

 action. 



Ere this the practitioner will have thought it necessary to pay 

 some attention to the comfort of the patient. This part of medical 

 treatment is too often neglected. She should have been watched 

 before she actually dropped, and got as soon as possible into the 

 house, and well and warmly littered up. If she drops in the field, it 

 ■will always be difficult to get her home ; and if she continues out, 

 and bad weather comes on, she will assuredly be lost. She should 

 be placed on one side, or, if possible, on her belly, inclining a little to 

 one side, and, as much as can be managed, in her usual position, and 

 with her fore parts a little elevated, and she should be secured in 

 that position by trusses of straw. She should be moved or turned 

 morning and night, in order to prevent soreness and excoriation. 

 Warm gruel and water should be frequently offered to her, and if 

 these ar.e obstinately refused, she should be moderately drenched 

 with thick gruel. Bean and malt mashes may be given with a little 

 sweet hay : but it must be remembered, that while moderate nourish- 

 ment is necessary to recruit her strength and support her through 

 such a disease, yet the digestive powers have usually shown that 

 they have shared in the debility of the frame, and must not be too 

 early or too much taxed. 



Having well opened the bowels and subdued the fever, the future 

 proceedings must be regulated by the state of the patient. In 

 general, httle more will be necessary than attention to diet and com- 

 fort. At all events, tonics and stimulants should not be too hastily 

 given. It should be recollected, that the disease was essentially of 

 a febrile nature. Experience will convince the practitioner, that 

 there long remains a lurking tendency to the renewal of febrile ac- 



