424 CATTLE. 



of the animal, and it can never long exist without inducing a degree 

 of fever, always dangerous, and generally fatal. 



Homxxopathic treatment. — The more or less inflammatory state 

 which generally accompanies it, requires that we commence the 

 treatment with a dose of aconitum. The most effectual means then 

 is nux vomica; it is indicated chiefly, when the evacuations from the 

 bowels are scanty, hard, covered with mucus, and when the animal 

 frequently draws up the belly. If there be no thirst, we should have 

 recourse to china and hryonia. The latter remedy is also suitable 

 when the constipation has been produced by cold, a circumstance in 

 which it frequently alternates with diarrhoea. Opium and argila 

 must be employed when the inactive state of the intestinal tube allows 

 nothing to escape from the body, and the animal remains lying down, 

 though evincing no pain. Tn very obstinate constipation, where the 

 rectum is empty, and also where only a small quantity of matter 

 escapes, which is not very hard, plumbum never fails to be efifectual. 



DIARRH(EA. 



The disease, however, to which calves are most liable, and which 

 is most fatal to them, is purging. It arises from various causes : the 

 milk of the mother may not agree with the young one ; it may be of 

 too poor a nature, and then it produces that disposition to acidity, 

 which is so easily excited in the fourth stomach and the intestines of 

 the calf; or, on the other hand, it may be too old and rich, and tffe 

 stomach, weakened by the attempt to convert it into healthy chyle, 

 secretes or permits the development of an acid fluid. It is the result 

 of starvation and of excess — it is the almost necessary consequence of 

 a sudden change of diet ; in fact, it is occasionally produced by every 

 thing that deranges the process of healthy digestion. 



The farmer needs not to be alarmed although the faeces should 

 become thin, and continue so during two or three days, if the animal 

 is as lively as usual, and feeds as he was wont ; but if he begins to 

 droop, if he refuses his food, if rumination ceases, and he is in evident 

 pain, and mucus, and perhaps blood, begin to mingle with the dung, 

 and that is far more fetid than in its natural state, not an hour should 

 be lost. The proper treatment has already been described under the 

 titles of diarrhoea and dysentery, pp.^338, 339. A mild purgative 

 (two ounces of castor oil, or three of Epsom salt) should first be 

 administered, to carry away the cause of the disturbed state of the 

 bowels. To this should follow anodyne and astringent and alkaline 

 medicines, with a mild carminative. The whole will consist of opium, 

 catechu, chalk, and ginger. The proportions of each have already 

 been given in p. 339, when describing the treatment of diarrhoea. 

 1'he use of this mixture should be accompanied by frequent drenching 

 with starch or thick gruel ; by the removal of green or acescent food, 

 and by giving bran mashes, with a little pea or bean flour. 



