288 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



Mild astringents also may be given with judgment. The 

 mineral tonics are very useful in diarrhoea. Where colicky 

 pains are present tincture of opium is most useful. Water 

 must be given in only small quantities, the food should be 

 dry, and starch gruel is an astringent beverage. Where 

 there seems to be a perverted condition of the secretions, 

 the administration of calomel with opium is advisable. 

 Creta preparata is very useful as an antacid. When 

 scrofulous tumours are probably present, but little hope 

 of recovery can be entertained, but iodine compounds and 

 copper salts may be tried. Of the latter, the ammonio- 

 sulphate and iodide are most likely to prove beneficial. 

 In cases of enzootic outbreaks of diarrhoea something 

 more than curative influence is required from the prac- 

 titioner. The food must be carefully examined. Cakes 

 may contain mustard, the water may be prejudicial, or, 

 lastly, the herbage may be laxative, as in the scouring 

 lands of Somersetshire and other parts of the country. 



Dysentery — bloody flux — is inflammation of the lining 

 membrane of the bowels, accompanied by ulceration. It 

 follows protracted diarrhoea, or may originate as a disease 

 in itself from exposure to cold, coarse innutritious pro- 

 vender, and almost any debilitating influence which acts 

 slowly but persistently. Thus, it is a sequela or culmina- 

 tion of some cases of scrofula, and may be found as a com- 

 plication in other blood diseases. It may be an after-effect 

 of poisonous ag/ents. 



Symptoms. — -Sometimes the disease is acute, but more 

 often chronic. In the acute cases there is fever, together 

 with the signs of slight abdominal pains. The patient 

 stands with back arched, and constantly strains, passing 

 only a small amount of watery matter tinged with blood ; 

 sometimes vesicles maybe seen in the nostrils (Armatage). 

 As the disease advances signs of abdominal pain increase in 

 intensity, and the rapid emaciation takes place, and the 

 patient sinks and dies from exhaustion. In the chronic 

 form, which generally results from the acute, the sym- 

 ptoms are those of extreme debility (as described under 

 the heading '^ Anaemia'^) ; the patient is hide-bound, and 



