THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



gruel : emollient injections should be administcrod, and castor 

 oil given in doses of a pint. The irritation of the intestines 

 must be allayed, and their healthy and vigorous action in- 

 duced. A seton of hellebore should be inserted in the dew- 

 lap ; ; and the general treatment be conducted as we have 

 detailed in inflammatory fever. 



CATAEKH, OK HOOSE ; EPIDEMIC CATARRH, OR INFLUENZA ; AND 

 MALIGNANT CATARRH, OR MURRAIN. 



Catarrh, or hoose, consists in inflammation of the lining 

 membrane of the great nasal cavities, spreading to the fauces, 

 the glands of the throat, and the larynx and windpipe. It is 

 mostly, perhaps, in the spring and autumn that catarrh pre- 

 vails ; it is caused by sudden changes of temperature ; as, for 

 example, a change from a close, overheated, and crowded 

 cowhouse to a bleak unsheltered pasture, during cold rain or 

 stormy easterly wind. Cattle heated by being overdriven, 

 and exposed to a cold current of air, are apt to be affected 

 by it. 



This disease commences by febrile symptoms : the pulse 

 is quick and hard ; the roots of the horns are hot ; the ears 

 and head are drooping ; the animal is dull, repeatedly coughs, 

 and neglects to feed. In a short time a discharge from the 

 nostrils takes place ; the animal swallows with difficulty, and 

 exhibits great debility. If neglected, the disease insidiously 

 pursues its course, atrophy ensues, the lungs become affected, 

 and consumption supervenes. However slight catarrh may 

 appear at first, it should not be, as it too often is, regarded 

 with indifference. The cow has a discharge from the nose, 

 her milk decreases, she coughs, her flanks heave, she loses 

 flesh ; and perhaps, when it is too late, the farmer takes the 

 alarm, and sends for the veterinarian, 



The treatment of this disease, if taken in time, is simple. 

 Blood must be abstracted (the animal having been placed 

 under shelter and apart), and this must be followed by saline 

 aperients, salts and ginger, in whey or gruel ; after which 

 doses of nitre (nitrate of potass) may be given two or three 

 times a day in gruel. The dose may be from two to four 

 drachms. Nitre will allay inflammation, and act upon the 

 kidneys. Gruel, warm bran mashes, with a little grass or 

 good hay, constitute the best diet. If the difficulty in swal- 

 lowing is considerable, a seton in the dewlap should not be 

 omitted ; or the throat may be blistered (though not readily) 



