THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 191 



horn is hot at its base, and the pulse is hard and quick. In 

 a day or two the animal seems better, but after a brief interval 

 the symptoms return with increased violence, the breathing 

 becomes more laborious, rumination ceases, though the 

 animal often lies down but this is from weakness and the 

 mouth is diy and hot. Mischief is now coming on, and, 

 most probably, in the form of inflammation of the lungs. 



This disease is, perhaps, the most prevalent in autumn, 

 when cattle are exposed in damp lands, and heavy cold fogs 

 set in at night, or partial frost which crisps the grass, yet 

 luxuriant though harsh. It may arise from miasmatous 

 exhalations, or from water putrescent with decomposed leaves 

 or other vegetable matters. At the beginning of the disease, 

 the judicious farmer will remove the animal, and take away 

 some blood, giving afterwards a cathartic dose, composed of 

 from eight to twelve ounces of Epsom salts (sulphate of mag- 

 nesia), two or three ounces of sulphur, two drachms of pow- 

 dered ginger, the whole mixed in a quart of warm water ; half 

 a pint of linseed oil may be added. The diet must be reduced 

 and mashes given, with repetitions of the cordial purgative, 

 till the animal regains its wonted cheerfulness, and every 

 symptom has disappeared. 



It not unfrequently happens that fever, appearing at first in 

 a slight and simple form, suddenly puts on a decidedly inflam- 

 matory character ; or, on the contrary, assumes a low typhoid 

 form, in which, as in the human subject, the vital energies 

 give way under the process of what is not unaptly termed a 

 secretly consuming fire. 



INFLAMMATORY FEVER. ' 



This disease, called black quarter, quarter-ill, evil-joint, 

 blood-sticking, and other meaningless names, is often preva- 

 lent in certain districts, and during certain years occasions 

 extensive mortality. Young cattle are the most commonly 

 seized, their habit being more disposed to plethora than aged 

 subjects. Sometimes the disease appears to be epidemic, or 

 at least attacks whole herds turned imprudently from spare 

 diet upon luxuriant pastures, subjected to wet cold nights, 

 while the blood vessels are receiving an inordinate addition 

 of the vital fluid from the assimilating system. 



So rapidly does this fever come on, that the slight pre- 

 cursory febrile symptoms are often unnoticed; and so quick 



