218 THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



the frame, dropsy ensues, and the animal dies worn out. On 

 examination after death the mucous membrane of the bowels, 

 but especially of the large intestines, is found to be inflamed, 

 ulcerated, or gangrenous ; in chronic cases the peritoneum 

 participates in the inflammation, and adhesions and effusion 

 of serum are the result. In the first inflammatory attack of 

 dysentery the abstraction of blood is required, and this must 

 be followed by opium and calomel (a drachm of each) in 

 thick gruel, repeated in a day or two if necessary, with 

 mashes in the interval. No green or succulent food must be 

 allowed; and the animal should be well housed and littered. 

 There may be occasion to repeat the opium and calomel 

 three or four times, or even oftener, till the bowels begin to 

 act naturally, when oleaginous aperients may be given. 



Diarrhoea or purging may arise from various causes, and 

 may mostly be regarded as an effort of nature to get rid of 

 some irritating matter in the alimentary canal. This cannot 

 be called a disease. But diarrhoea often assumes a very 

 severe and obstinate character, and runs at last into dysentery. 

 It commences with a frequent and abundant evacuation of 

 foetid matter, owing perhaps to a sudden change from dry to 

 green food, to impure water, or to some particular state of 

 the atmosphere ; in a short time the purging becomes more 

 severe, and the evacuations become mucous ; the animal 

 suffers severe griping pain, rapidly loses flesh, and at length 

 wastes away to a skeleton. Milch cows and calves are more 

 subject to the disease than oxen. The cow ceases to yield 

 her usual supply of milk ; she appears cheerful, eats and 

 drinks ; but the diarrhoea or scouring is incessant, and at 

 last she dies. On examination after death the lining mem- 

 brane of the fourth stomach or abomasum will generally be 

 found much thickened and pallid, with effusion of serum 

 between it and the muscular coat; and these appearances 

 extend to a greater or less degree through the alimentary 

 canal. There is not unfrequently effusion also in the cavity 

 of the abdomen, and that to a considerable extent. 



It is evident that in these cases the disease begins in a low 

 inflammation, or state of irritability of the mucous mem- 

 branes ; and all attempts to check its progress by astringents 

 and aromatics will be useless, unless the healthy condition of 

 the mucous membranes be first restored. In the commence- 

 ment of the disease, as soon as its obstinate character is 

 revealed, the abstraction of a small quantity of blood may be 



