196 THE OX AND THE DAIKY. 



by rubbing the skin with the common blister ointment, or a 

 liniment cons.ist.ing of an ounce of the powdered blisterfly, 

 two ounces of oil of turpentine, and six ounces of common 

 oiL 



Catarrh is sometimes epidemic, spreading over whole dis- 

 tricts, and assuming a very virulent and dangerous form. At 

 the commencement the fever is very severe, the respiratory 

 passages are greatly inflamed, there is a distressing hoose, 

 and the aspect is agitated. Sometimes the bowels are con- 

 fined ; but sometimes diarrhoea comes on, and is very trouble- 

 some. If not checked, a stage of debility supervenes, the 

 fever assumes a typhoid form, crackling air-filled tumours in 

 the cellular tissue show themselves about the head, loins, and 

 limbs ; the breath becomes fetid, the animal staggers, its coat 

 is staring, its flesh wastes away, the discharge from the nos- 

 trils is sanious, and death ends the scene. 



During the febrile stage, bleeding freely and promptly, with 

 a repetition of the bleeding if necessary, together with active 

 aperients and sedatives (digitalis, tartarized antimony, and 

 nitre), as recommended in inflammatory fever, warm mashes, 

 and injections, must be resorted to. But in the stage of de- 

 bility little can be done. Doses of nitrous ether (two or three 

 drachms) and laudanum (half-an-ounce), mixed in gruel, may 

 perhaps be serviceable. Should the fever pass off, and simple 

 weakness only remain, tonics, such as gentian and ginger 

 may be given. 



Catarrh sometimes appears in the form of a malignant 

 epidemic, sweeping away the cattle of whole districts, and, in 

 fact, spreading over whole countries. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX AND WINDPIPE. 



Besides the catarrhal affections described, cattle are subject 

 to inflammation of the lining membrane of the larynx and 

 windpipe, often extending through the bronchial tubes. This 

 is a formidable disease, sometimes apparently epidemic, but 

 more frequently the result of sudden atmospheric changes in 

 cold damp situations. The disease commences with the 

 usual symptoms of fever, shivering, loss of appetite, a quick- 

 ened pulse, and a laboured, husky, wheezing respiration, to 

 which succeeds great debility. The least pressure along the 

 throat evidently gives great pain, the animal moves its head 

 stiffly and with difficulty, and cannot swallow without a 

 marked effort the drinks administered. 



