LIVE-STOCK 113 



Common diseases. 



Simple fever. — This may be brought about through chauges 

 of weather, change of food, or exposure. It is ushered in 

 with a shivering fit, which is followed by hurried breathing 

 and with temperature increased to 104° to 106'. Confine the 

 animal to the stall. Give as drench 8 to 12 ounces of Epsom 

 salts with an ounce of nitre. Then give twice a day an ounce 

 of common salt and two drams of nitre in a pint of water. 

 The patient must have green grass and plenty of pure drink- 

 ing water. When free from the complaint an ounce of pow- 

 dered chirata with two drams of black pepper in a pint of 

 water or gruel may be given once daily for a few days. 



Rheumatism. — A common complaint in India. It results 

 from the inflammation of the fibrous tissue through 

 exposure to wet and damp. It is most common in the 

 south-west monsoon— June to September. Young animals 

 between the ages of one and five are most liable. There is 

 high fever attended with stiffness and pain in moving. The 

 animal walks very lame. It soon lies down and is unable to 

 get up. The attack lasts for about three days, when fever 

 and lameness disappear, but stiffness in gait remains for 

 some time. Give at once a pound of Epsom salts with half an 

 ounce of ginger in sufficient quantity of warm water. The 

 animal must be provided with a good bed and have placed 

 before it green grass and pure fresh water with a little nitre 

 dissolved in it. After recovery two ounces of sulphur may 

 be given once daily for a few days. 



Cancer. — Cancerous tumours and sores are not uncommon 

 in cattle. The only plan is to remove the diseased part 

 completely by surgical means. If this is not possible, the 

 disease cannot be eradicated. Mild caustics may be used as a 

 palliative measure. 



Tuberculosis. — This is what is commonly known as con- 

 sumption in man. It attacks cattle and other domesticated 

 animals. The disease is infectious. The cause is an organism 

 known as Bacillus tuberculosis. It is a blood disease, but the 

 organs particularly affected are different in different attacks. 

 The lungs are the organs most frequently attacked, but the 

 liver and intestines and other abdominal organs may also be 

 the seat of the disease. Joints are sometimes affected. The 

 affected animal is out of condition and falls away in flesh. 

 The faeces are offensive and loose. When the lungs are 

 affected there is also a cough, which is weak and coarse. 

 Post-mortem examination shows the presence of small nodules 

 or tubercles in the organs affected. There is no known cure 

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