CHAPTER XX. 



A LIST OF THE MEDICINES USED IN THE TREAT- 

 MENT OF THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



Alcohol. — There are two circumstances which not only render the 

 practice of giving stimulants to cattle far more excusable than in the 

 horse, but absolutely necessary ; the first is, the disposition which all 

 the inflammatory diseases of cattle have to take on a typhoid form, 

 and assume a malignant character ; and the second is, the construc- 

 tion of the stomachs of these animals, in consequence of which a 

 considerable portion of the medicine falls into the comparatively 

 insensible paunch. Hence, inflammation having been subdued, the 

 practitioner is always anxious to support the strength of the consti- 

 tution ; and even while he is combating inflammation, he cautiously 

 adds a stimulant to the purgative, in order that he may dispose the 

 tissues with which that purgative may come into contact to be affected 

 by it. Hence ginger forms an indispensable ingredient in every 

 aperient drink ; hence the recourse to wine in many cases of low 

 fever ; and henco also the foundation of, and the excuse for, the 

 custom of adding the sound home-brewed ale to almost every purga- 

 tive, and especially for .young and weakly cattle, when evident 

 inflammatory action does not forbid it. The fiery spices and the 

 almost undiluted spirit administered by the cow-leech can never be 

 justified ; yet, in cattle-practice, the beneficial eflect of the aperient 

 often depends fully as much on the carminative by which it is accom- 

 panied, as on the purgative power of the di-ug itself. 



Aloes. — It holds a secondary rank, or might be almost dismissed 

 from the hst of cattle aperients. It is always uncertain in its efi'ect, 

 and sometimes appears to be absolutely inert. Six ounces have been 

 given without producing any appreciable effect. Still, however, as 

 there is no case on record in which it has destroyed the ox by super- 

 purgation, and as occasionally it does seem to exert some purgative 

 effect, it may be admitted in combination with or alternating with 

 other purgatives, when constipation is obstinate ; few, however, would 

 think of resorting to it in the first instance. 



The Barbadoes aloes should be selected ; and on account of the 

 construction of the stomachs, it must be always administered in solu- 

 tion, for a ball would break through the floor of the oesophagean canaL 



