144 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



presence in the water and food of the ptomaines of bacteria growth 

 hence the prevalence of " red- water " in marshy districts and on clayey 

 and other impervious soils ; hence, too, the occurrence of bloody urine 

 in the advanced stages of several contagious diseases. Some mineral 

 poisons, such as iodine, arsenic, and phosphorus taken to excess, may 

 cause hrematuria, and finally the symptoms may be the mere result of 

 a constitutional predisposition of the individual or family to bleeding. 

 Exposure of the body to cold or wet will cause the affection in some pre- 

 disposed subjects. 



The specific symptom of bloody or smoky water is a very patent one. 

 It may be associated with fever or not, with the presence or absence of 

 abdominal tenderness on pressure, with a very frothy state of the milk 

 or even a reddish tinge, with or without marked paleness of the mu- 

 cous membranes and general weakness. When direct injury to the 

 kidneys is the immediate cause of the disease the urine will be passed 

 often, in small quantity at a time, and with much straining. When 

 there is bloodlessness (a watery blood) from insufficient nourishment, 

 fever is absent and the red water is at first the only symptom. When 

 the active cause has been irritant plants, abdominal tenderness, colics, 

 and other signs of bowel inflammation are marked features. 



Treatment will vary according as the cause has been a direct irritant 

 operating on a subject in vigorous health or a malarious poison acting 

 on an animal deficient in blood and vigor. In the first form of red- 

 water a smart purgative (1 pound to 1 pounds Glauber salts) will 

 clear away the irritants from the bowels and allay the coexistent high 

 fever. It will also serve to divert to the bowels much of the irritant 

 products already absorbed into the blood, and will thus protect the 

 kidneys. In many such cases a liberal supply of wholesome, easily 

 digestible food will be all the additional treatment required. In this 

 connection demulcent food (boiled flaxseed, wheat bran) is especially 

 good. If much" blood has been lost, bitters (gentian, one-half ounce) 

 and iron (sulphate of iron, 2 drams) should be given for a week. 



For cases in which excess of diuretic plants have been taken, it may 

 be well to replace the salts by 1 to 2 pints olive oil, adding 1 ounce 

 laudanum and 2 drams gum camphor. Also to apply fomentations or a 

 fresh sheepskin over the loins. Buttermilk or vinegar, one-half pint, or 

 sulphuric acid, 60 drops in a pint of water, may also be employed at 

 intervals as injections. In cases due to sprained or fractured loins, to 

 inflamed kidneys, or to stone or gravel, the treatment will be as for the 

 particular disease in question. 



In hfematuria from anemia (watery blood), whether from insufficient 

 or badly-adjusted rations, or from the poisonous products of fermenta- 

 tions in impervious or marshy soils, the treatment must be essentially 

 tonic and stimulating. Rich, abundant, and easily digestible food must 

 be furnished. The different grains (oats, barley, wheat, bran, rye) and 

 seeds (rape, linseed, cotton-seed) are especially called for, and may be 



