THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



disease assumes a more dangerous form than in our island, 

 the inflammation extending to the throat. 



In catarrhal affections vesicles called harbs or paps, of a 

 red colour, sometimes appear in the mouth, but oftener when 

 its membranes are inflamed ; these the cow-leech will some- 

 times ignoraiitly remove by the scissors or hot iron, produc- 

 ing unpleasant ulcers. In such slight cases a few doses of 

 physic are all that is required ; or, should some degree of 

 ulceration take place, an alum wash is sufficient to heal them. 

 These little bladders often appear over the sublingual 

 glands, the orifices of which are enlarged and distended with 

 saliva. 



We may here also observe that the submaxillary and 

 parotid glands are, from various causes, subject to acute 

 inflammation and swelling, called strangullion; and sometimes 

 abscesses are formed, which become malignant, and are diffi- 

 cult to cure. This is more especially the case with the 

 parotid gland (under the ear). In catarrh, and in epidemic 

 diseases of a severe character, the parotid glands are gener- 

 ally hot, swollen, and painful, rendering the action of the 

 lower jaw very difficult. The swelled gland, moreover, 

 presses upon the adjacent blood-vessels, impeding the current 

 of blood. 



Hot fomentations, frequently applied, are useful ; and, 

 when suppuration has commenced, it should be encouraged 

 by hot poultices, and the abscess freely opened as soon as 

 the fluctuation of the purulent matter is clearly distinguish- 

 able ; the abscess will then generally fill up ; but if allowed 

 to burst of itself, ulcers, often of a phagedenic character, or 

 apt to become gangrenous, will be the result. For these 

 ulcers washes of chloride of lime must be used, and after- 

 wards dressings of tincture of aloes. 



During the inflammatory stage there will be considerable 

 fever, rendering the abstraction of a little blood advisable, 

 with aperients and sedatives ; but when ulceration has com- 

 menced tonics should be administered. The food should 

 consist of gruel and mashes requiring but little mastication. 

 Contusions, and the blows of cattle-drivers, merciless in the 

 use of their sticks about the heads of the poor beasts sub- 

 jected to their barbarity, are not unfrequently the cause of 

 inflammation and suppuration of the parotid gland ; but the 

 disease very often commences spontaneously, or is sympa 

 the tic with general derangement of the system. 



Q 



