DIATHESIS. 49 



trum, (which see.) Slight moisture on the skin is very 

 desirable in cases of fever. The cold water douche is 

 used by hydropaths for this purpose. 



When sweating is desired for the cure of disease, it 

 must be done without increasing the heart's action. This 

 is the great secret in producing diaphoresis. 



Diarrhoea. 



(1.) Simple Diarrhcea consists of a looseness, or 

 fluid condition of excrement, from something irritant in 

 the bowels, and which does not freely pass away. When 

 this condition is present, and no pain, griping or pawing 

 as in colic, it may be well let alone. 



(2.) Continued Diarrhcea. — This is often the case 

 when irritation does not pass away with the offending 

 matter, and the bowels continue to discharge a thin 

 fluid. There is slight pain or colic. When this is the 

 case, suspect some irritant poison. (See Poison.) 



Treatment. — From whatever cause the diarrhoea 

 may arise, treatment that will allay pain is demanded. 

 First. Give twenty to twenty-five drops of the tincture 

 of aconite root in a little cold water. Then give the 

 following powder every two hours, until a change for 

 the better has taken place: — Prepared chalk, half an 

 ounce ; catechu in powder, one drachm ; opium in pow- 

 der, ten grains. Allow the animal plenty of water to 

 drink, which will help to keep or allay irritation, or 

 what disposition there may be to inflammation. Bran 

 mashes should be given for a few days, so as to over- 

 come the effects of so much drying or binding medicine. 

 Cake meal, or ground flaxseed, will be an excellent as- 

 sistant in this particular. 



Diathesis. — When we read in medical books of the 



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