234 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



the back and loins, or to the limbs, acts in this way. So do mustard 

 plasters, frictions with oil of turpentine, the prolonged movement 

 over the part of a hot smoothing iron with a thin cloth between it 

 and the skin, or finally the application of strong liquor ammonia, 

 covered up for 15 minutes with a close rug. 



In cases with a high body temperature an excellent plan is to wrap 

 the whole body in a blanket slightly wrung out of cold water, and 

 cover this closely at all points with dry blankets to exclude the air 

 and prevent evaporation and cooling. In 15 or 20 minutes a reaction 

 will have taken place, the whole body will have been cooled somewhat 

 by the blood returning from the skin since the blanket was applied, 

 and the free perspiration will now serve to relieve both by cooling 

 and by carrying off waste matters from the blood. This may be 

 repeated several times a day if the temperature rises again. In cold 

 weather the skin should be rubbed dry on each occasion. 



A similar method of drawing off the blood from the brain is by fre- 

 quent rubbing of the udder and drawing off the milk. 



In cases of extreme prostration and weak pulse one-half ounce car- 

 bonate of ammonia may be given, and repeated at the end of an hour 

 or two if needed. It may be given as a roller-formed bolus made 

 up with a very little flour to give it consistency, or if the cow can not 

 swallow, it may be dissolved in water and poured through a probang 

 (PI. Ill, fig. 2), or tube, introduced into the stomach. 



Bloating of the left side (paunch) is a common and dangerous 

 complication of the disease, as it at once aggravates the pressure on 

 the brain, partly by expression of blood from the abdominal organs 

 and partly by nervous action through the vagus and sympathetic 

 nerves. It may often be checked by the use of carbonate of ammonia ; 

 or hyposulphite of soda (one-half ounce) may be substituted, or oil 

 of turpentine (1 ounce). In obstinate cases the paunch should be 

 punctured in the upper part of the left flank by a trocar and cannula 

 (PI. Ill, figs. 5a and 55) and the latter left in place until it is no 

 longer needed. 



Another most important precaution is to draw off the urine from 

 the bladder several times a day, as a full bladder greatly aggravates 

 the case. 



A weak induction current of electricity may be sent through the 

 brain for 10 minutes at a time in case of extreme insensibility, and 

 through the affected limb in case of remaining paralysis. 



In the torpid or noncongestive form of the disease the treatment is 

 the same as regards purgatives, stimulants^ nux vomica, antiseptics 

 for bloating, attention to the bladder and udder, counterirritants to 

 spine or limbs, and even bleeding. The cold wet sheets and even 

 the ice to the head may often be dispensed with. 



