248 THE OX AND THE DAIKY 



emaciated, the eyes sunk, the membranes of the nose and 

 mouth pallid, the respiration hurried, the pulse quick, and 

 the prostration of strength extreme ; there is often an un- 

 pleasant 3ough and other symptoms of consumption, which 

 increase till the animal dies, almost a skeleton. Sometimes 

 tumours can be felt by passing the hand over the surface of 

 *he abdomen, but this is not always the case. 



In such a disease little or nothing can be done. Doses of 

 mercury and opium, as two scruples of calomel and half a 

 drachm of powdered opium given every evening, with tonic 

 draughts (gentian, or infusion of cascarilla) during the day, 

 may perhaps mitigate the symptoms. To these remedies 

 occasional aperients may be added. Eight or ten grains of 

 iodide of potass, divided into two doses, may be given daily in 

 gruel, the quantity of the iodide being gradually increased to 

 ten grains for each dose. If this be used, the mercury and 

 opium must be omitted. Warm stabling and good food are 

 of course essential. After all, little, we repeat it can be 

 done ; the disease has generally made great progress before 

 it is suspected, and it runs its course. Frequently it is associ- 

 ated with a tuberculous state of the lungs, and also with 

 enlargements of the glands generally. 



Though mature cattle are. not exempt from this malady, it 

 occurs most commonly in young weakly beasts, poorly fed, 

 and reared in low damp situations. Let it be remembered 

 that, as in consumption, the tendency to it is hereditary. It 

 is, in fact, a form of consumption the index of a scrofulous 

 diathesis. 



POISONS. 



Cattle sometimes partake of poisonous plants, as the w r ater- 

 hemlock, the yew, and others, and perish in consequence ; 

 nor is it easy to determine from the symptoms alone that 

 they are suffering from such a cause. The animal is torpid, 

 and swells ; its thirst is excessive, but it refuses food ; it 

 grinds its teeth, evidently from agony; stamps, paws the 

 ground, strikes at its flanks, and sometimes rolls on the 

 ground, as if labouring under spasmodic pains of colic. 



Occasionally the animal becomes infuriated, as if agitated 

 by frenzy ; this state of madness continues for a longer or 

 shorter period, ending in general palsy, torpor, and death. 



Examination of the body, in these cases, reveals inflam- 

 mation of the paunch and reticulated stomach ; and often 



