06 THE OX AND THE DAIEY. 



nately constipated, with occasional intermissions of diarrhoea ; 

 but some cases occur in which the animal is attacked by 

 violent purging, the alvine excretions being copious, dark, 

 and fetid. During the progress of the disease the pulse varies 

 considerably in its character, but is usually feeble. 



The treatment recommended is moderate bleeding in the 

 early stages of the disease, which it may be often necessary 

 to repeat; after this one drachm of calomel, suspended in 

 thick gruel, with half a drachm of opium, and two drachms 

 of ginger, may be given. In the course of six or eight hours 

 after this, an aperient, composed of eight ounces of Epsom 

 salts, four ounces of sulphur, and half-a-pint of linseed oil, 

 with gruel, may be administered, and repeated in twelve or 

 eighteen hours if the prior dose has taken no effect. " In 

 severe cases a blister may be applied to the right side, and a 

 drachm of calomel, half-a-drachm of opium, two drachms of 

 gentian, one of ginger, and two of nitre, administered in 

 gruel twice a day." 



In cases where diarrhoea occurs from the commencement, 

 the aperient dose should be either entirely omitted or given 

 in only half the quantity, but the calomel and opium, &c., 

 repeated morning and evening. In all cases the diet should 

 be restricted and simple, and as little stimulating as possible. 



Active inflammation of the liver may yield to a certain ex- 

 tent, and ultimately merge into a chronic form ; the liver 

 now becomes preternaturally enlarged and indurated, some- 

 times soft and spongy; it is often studded with tubercles 

 of large size filled with purulent matter. It is the nidus 

 of numerous hydatids ; and fluke-worms (distoma hepaticum) 

 inhabit cysts in its substance and even the biliary ducts. 



Chronic inflammation, however, is not necessarily the 

 result of active inflammation ; it occurs when no such in- 

 flammation has previously existed, and it may continue for a 

 considerable period without any decided symptoms being 

 manifest. We have frequently seen decided indications of 

 chronic disease of the liver in animals slaughtered for sale, 

 and which were in good condition. This disease may run 

 on to a horrible extent before it destroys life, though the 

 animal may be meagre, weak, dull, and hide-bound. 



JAUNDICE, OR YELLOWS. 



Jaundice, to a greater or less extent, is the accompaniment 

 of chronic inflammation of the liver ; it arises from the ob 



