J 92 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



is its course that there is little time, or none, to have recourse 

 to remedies. Generally, however, the ordinary symptoms of 

 simple fever may be noticed, but these all at once assume a 

 most aggravated form ; the animal labours under a general 

 venous congestion, and dies a mass of putridity. 



The first stage of this disease is highly inflammatory. . The 

 pulse is quick, hard, and strong, the eyes are inflamed and 

 protruding; the tongue is dry and parched; the breathing 

 laboured and quick, with deeper inspirations at intervals ; the 

 head is stretched forth, the neck at full extent, and an agi- 

 tated expression marks the countenance ; the appetite is 

 gone, and of course rumination suspended. This is the first, 

 or perhaps, in reality, the second stage ; at all events it is the 

 first noticed, and these symptoms are apparent, though in 

 particular cases some may be more marked than others. 

 What is now to be done ? first, bleed, aiming at once for 

 all, and bleed freely, even to fainting : then give active aperi- 

 ents ; and if necessary bleed again, but now with caution, 

 and not within six or eight hours after the first operation : 

 for the strength of the animal, and the state of its exhaustion, 

 are points to be kept in mind ; but recourse must be had to 

 a second and copious bleeding unless a decided improvement 

 has already manifested itself. Sedatives should succeed the 

 brisk aperients : half a drachm or a drachm of digitalis (fox- 

 glove leaves properly dried and powdered), one drachm of 

 tartarized antimony, and four drachms of nitre, mixed in any 

 demulcent liquid, may be given twice a day. A seton of black 

 hellebore should be inserted into the dewlap. Should the 

 disease continue, the animal utters low distressing moans, 

 and is generally unconscious of surrounding objects ; it will 

 stand gasping, but without change of posture, for a consider- 

 able time ; and when it attempts to move it staggers and 

 reels, and the hind quarters seem affected with a partial para- 

 lysis ; the loins are so tender that the slightest pressure pro- 

 duces pain ; and swellings arise on the shoulders, back, and 

 limbs, which, when pressed, make a crackling noise. These 

 swellings arise from an effusion of some gas into the cellular 

 tissue, the consequence of a putrescent state of the blood. 

 Debility now rapidly increases, and the animal drops ; per- 

 haps it rises again, but it again falls prostrate, and after 

 making vain attempts to recover its limbs, sinks into a coma- 

 tose state, and dies. Sloughing ulcers, in this stage, often 

 spread over the abdomen, the limbs, and other parts ; the 



