DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 47 



TreatTTient. — In such cases it is advisable to produce a free action of 

 the bowels, so as to remove the usually congested condition of the 

 portal vein and liver. For this purpose we recommend the adminis- 

 tration of the following dose: Sulphate of soda, 16 ounces; molasses, 

 1 pint; warm water, 1 quart. The sulphate of soda is dissolved by 

 stirring it up in tepid water. Following tliis the animal should have 

 a heaping tablespoonful of artificial Carlsbad salt in the food three 

 times daily. This treatment may be assisted by giving occasional 

 mjections of warm water and soap. The diet should be laxative and 

 moderate in quantity, and may consist of coarse bran mash, pulped 

 roots, grass in. the season, and hay in moderate quantity. 



HEPATITIS (inflammation OF THE LIVEB). 



Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, and usually occurs as a 

 complication of some infectious disease. It may also occur as a com- 

 plication of gastro- intestinal catarrh, or in the hot weather from over- 

 heating or damaged (putrid or fermented) foods. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are sometimes obscure, and their real 

 significance is frequently overlooked. The most prominent symp- 

 toms are yellowness of the white of the eye and of the membrane 

 lining the mouth; the appetite is poor, the body presents an emaci- 

 ated appearance, the feces are light colored, while the urine is likely 

 to be unusually dark; there is thirst, and pain is caused by pressing 

 over the liver. The gait is weak, and the animal lies down more 

 than usual, and while doing so frequently has its head turned around 

 resting on the side of its chest. 



Treatment. — Give a purge of Glauber's salt, and after it has oper- 

 ated give artificial Carlsbad salt in each feed, as advised under 

 " Jaundice." Give green food and plenty of water. Oil of turpen- 

 tine should be rubbed in well once a day over the region of the liver. 

 The skin on which it should be applied extends from the false ribs 

 on the right side to 6 inches in front of the last one, and from the 

 backbone to 12 inches on the right side of it. 



the fluke disease. 



[See chapter on "The animal parasites of cattle," p. 518.] 



splenitis (inflammation of the spleen). 



This disease occurs almost solely as a result of the existence of 

 some infectious disease, and the symptoms caused by it merge with 

 the symptoms of the accompanying causative disease. The spleen is 

 seriously involved, and becomes enlarged and soft in Texas fever, 

 anthrax, and blood poisoning. 



