42 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



to those conditions which produce the disease, recovery may take place 

 in a comparatively short time; in exceptional ease?, however, when the 

 acute stage of the disease has subsided it may assume a chronic and 

 lingering form. 



Treatment. "When the animal is seen at an early stage of the disease 

 it should be bled to the extent of from 2 to 4 quarts. The age and 

 condition of the animal must of course be taken into consideration in 

 estimating the quantity of blood which should be abstracted. Half- 

 ounce doses of laudanum should be given several times a day, mixed 

 in a quart of linseed tea. 



HEMORRHAGIC ENTERITIS. 



This disease is not of frequent occurrence, but comes on suddenly, 

 and is characterized by a hemorrhage or exudation of blood between 

 the mucous and muscular coats of the bowels. The symptoms resemble 

 those of the form of enteritis already described, only that they come 

 on more suddenly and are of a more violent character. This form of 

 enteritis chiefly occurs among working oxen during very hot weather. 

 It is a more dangerous form of enteritis than that already described. 

 When the acute symptoms subside the animal may show great weak- 

 ness, which is owing to the great extent to which subrnucous hemor- 

 rhage has taken place. At this stage of the disease bleeding is con- 

 tra-indicated ; the passages may be streaked with blood and may even 

 contain blood-clots. The treatment will be similar to that recommended 

 in the first form of enteritis, bearing in mind of course that bleeding 

 should only be practiced at an early stage. After death the affected 

 portion of the bowel is much thickened and increased in weight, owing 

 to the quantity of blood which has been effused between the mucous 

 and muscular coats. 



MERCURIAL ENTERITIS. 



This is an inflammation of the bowels which may be produced by 

 cattle licking off the mercurial ointment which is sometimes rubbed on 

 them when they are suffering from skin disease. (See Mercurial Poi- 

 sons, p. 69.) 



Symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those of the forms of enter- 

 itis already described. In this form of the disease we also observe 

 grinding of the teeth and dribbling of saliva from the corners of the 

 mouth. Two or three days after the attack gas is frequently passed 

 from the bowels; the belly is tucked up and the flanks become hollow; 

 the passages are very thin and coated with mucus. About the fifth or 

 sixth day there is swelling of the tongue and mucous membrane of the 

 mouth, quivering of the muscles of the limbs, staggering gait, great 

 emaciation, and the animal dies about the twelfth day. Cruzel states 

 that he has several times observed these symptoms in oxen which, in 



