210 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



greatly increased, and the pulse is hard and rapid ; the pupils 

 are dilated, and the muzzle hot and dry ; gradually wild 

 delirium comes on, the eyes are inflamed, protruded, and 

 fierce ; the animal is roused to fury, staggers about, bellowing 

 hideously, and, as if actuated by a sudden impulse, rushes at 

 every living thing which may catch its eye. After madly 

 plunging, and rushing with furious energy, it suddenly falls 

 and lies a while senseless, or perhaps struggling convulsively ; 

 in a short time it regains its feet, and again exhibits every 

 symptom of fury ; again it falls, and again rises, till at length 

 it sinks comatose and dies. 



It is only at the commencement of the disease, even if it 

 were possible, without risk of human life, afterwards to attempt 

 anything, that medical treatment will generally avail. 



Bleed from a free orifice, even to fainting ; and give a 

 quick purgative consisting of aloes, half an ounce or one 

 ounce, with half a pound of salts, and water ; some recom- 

 mend a scruple or half a drachm of the powder of croton-nut, 

 in water or gruel ; setons of hellebore in the dewlap are also 

 advisable. Occasionally cattle have been restored, even when 

 the attack of phrensy has come on ; but it is then very diffi- 

 cult to secure a beast ; if, however, this be effected, the lancet 

 and active purgatives are the only remedies to be trusted. 



Apoplexy is a disease to which cattle are subject, and from 

 the same causes as produce phrenitis ; it is, however, far more 

 sudden in its attack. It consists in a violent rush of blood 

 to the brain, which gorges the vessels to the utmost, when 

 the animal falls, struggles perbaps for a short time with great 

 force, and then sinks into a kind of stupor, and dies. Some- 

 times a vessel ruptures, and effusion of blood on the surface 

 of the brain takes place. In some districts apoplexy is called 

 blood-striking, and the word is not unhappily applied. In 

 these cases, while life continues, the only chance is in bleed- 

 ing freely from a large orifice ; should this in a measure 

 restore the animal to itself, the same measures as in inflam- 

 mation of the brain must be adopted. 



Inflammation of the brain, when the animal becomes 

 furious, is often mistaken for rabies, especially if any suspicion 

 exist that a rabid dog has been in the neighbourhood, or if a 

 strange dog has been seen about the farm or cow-house. It 

 is not easy to distinguish always between rabies and phrensy. 

 Mr. Youatt says, that a rabid ox will plot mischief, and 

 endeavour to lure his victims within his reach ; while the 



