224 . THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



myrrh. The animal should be supported upon good gruel, 

 poured gently and slowly down the gullet, if the beast refuse 

 to take it ; the horn, however, is not often needed. It may 

 be necessary to give tonics also, as gentian and ginger, in 

 doses of two drachms each, mixed with gruel and half a pint 

 of good ale, twice a day. 



In this disease many absurd and even disgusting nostrums 

 have been administered, and some unsafe plans put into 

 practice, to the disgrace of those whose common sense ought 

 to have taught them better. That the village blacksmith, or 

 cow-leech, should boast his quack remedies and his pretended 

 skill, is not to be wondered at ; but that he should impose 

 upon persons who in all other affairs show discernment, is 

 indeed surprising. Perhaps, however, we do not make suf- 

 ficient allowance for human credulity, and forget that there is 

 as much pleasure "in being cheated as to cheat." 



From experiments which have been made, it would appear 

 that the blain is one of those diseases which seldom occur a 

 second time in the same individual. How far, when the epi- 

 demic is spreading abroad, would it be advisable to inoculate 

 for it, and then, watching the result, commence the treatment 

 of the disease, upon its first appearance, when it is easily 

 manageable? We are not aware that any experiment, with 

 this object in view, has ever been made. 



THRUSH, OR APHTHA OF THE MOUTH. 



In many respects this disease bears a close resemblance to 

 blain ; it commences with inflammation of the mouth, attend- 

 ant perhaps upon some disease; and in a short time the 

 sides of the tongue, and inside of the mouth generally, are 

 covered with small pustules which break and ulcerate. There 

 is seldom much fever or loss of appetite ; and a few aperient 

 doses, with a lotion of tincture of myrrh, alum, and water for 

 the mouth, will generally prove successful in the course of a 

 week or ten days. Sometimes, however, the ulceration 

 spreads alarmingly, and the symptoms begin to be formid- 

 able. If the pulse permit (for great debility then comes on 

 quickly) some blood must be taken away, and the mouth well 

 washed with a solution of chloride of lime, and afterwards 

 with tincture of myrrh. Thrush is generally connected with 

 derangement of the digestive organs, produced by damaged 

 food, foul water, and similar things ; but sometimes it ap- 

 pears as an epidemic, especially on the continent, where the 



