THE OX AND THE DAIRY. 



nay, a field safe during certain parts of the year, may be 

 dangerous during another. Atmospheric influences may also 

 have their effect ; for it sometimes appears as an epidemic of 

 a malignant character. Whatever, in fact, affects the digestive 

 organs, including the liver, may give rise to attacks of this 

 often fatal malady. 



As we have already said, red water must he distinguished 

 from inflammation of the kidneys, which is often combined 

 with enteritis. True red water commences with dulness, 

 languor, and loss of appetite ; rumination ceases ; the urine 

 is at first brownish, and then of brownish yellow, and ulti- 

 mately appears like dark porter : sometimes there is great 

 strangury, but this is not an invariable symptom. The skin 

 is of a dirty yellow ; the eyes and nostrils are suffused with 

 yellow, as is also the little milk that the cow may yield : its 

 taste and odour are unpleasant. If blood be drawn, the 

 serum, which separates from the coagulum, is of a brownish 

 yellow. The pulse is quick; the animal can scarcely be 

 forced to move ; the loins are tender, and show signs of 

 weakness ; the ears and limbs become cold. At first dia- 

 rrhoea makes its appearance, but only at first ; but this sud- 

 denly stops, and is succeeded by obstinate constipation. 

 The urine now becomes even still darker ; the disease may- 

 be termed black water; the animal now rapidly sinks and 

 dies. 



The duration of this disease, from its commencement to its 

 fatal termination, varies according to circumstances : it may 

 continue for weeks. 



It is rarely, excepting in the early stage of the disease, that 

 the red water is curable. If the animal be robust, and the 

 slightest febrile action present, moderate bleeding will be 

 beneficial, but the flow of blood should be stopped as soon as 

 the pulse is the least degree faltering. Some practitioners 

 dislike the abstraction of blood in this malady, but we can 

 see.no danger if caution be used; and both Mr. Simonds 

 of Twickenham, and Mr. Harrison of Ormskirk, who have 

 had extensive experience in its treatment, resort, unless there 

 be good reason for the contrary, to this mode of treatment. 

 The next step is the administration of purgatives and injec- 

 tions. The purgative draughts should be gently poured down 

 the gullet, or slowly thrown down by means of the patent 

 stomach-pump ; a good aperient drench may consist of twelve 

 or fourteen ounces of Epsom salts, four ounces of sulphur, 



