70 THE VETERINARY DOCTOR. 
ment of the blood, congested lining membrane of the intestines, nervous 
excitement, worms, derangement of some organ, as the stomach or liver, 
influenza or other disease. 
Symptoms.—Frequent passages of dreggy or watery dung, without. 
the blood which is common in dysentery, with or without griping; some- 
times straining and discharge of wind; pawing, rolling and looking at the 
flank; discharges occasionally black and very offensive, but usually not 
offensive, and containing small pieces of hay; appetite lessened or lost; 
pulse quick, weak and irregular, and breathing hurried, though neither is: 
much affected in early stages; straining increases with the advance of the 
disease, with more wind passing. In severe cases there will be offensive 
breath, cold skin and extremities, and rapid decline of flesh and strength. 
TREATMENT.— When diarrhea results from taking cold, or when 
congestion of the mucous membrane is supposed to exist, aconite will allay: 
the inflammation. This remedy may be given in connection with mercu- 
rius if the discharges are slimy and offensive, and the breath is foul. Some- 
times the disorder follows constipation, and the discharges will then first: 
be composed of dry, hard balls, then loose, and thus alternating. In such 
a condition nux vomica will be invaluable. In painless diarrhcea, with. 
watery discharges, cold skin and shivering, give half-teaspoonful doses ot 
tincture of camphor every hour until relief is afforded. Give arsenicum or 
phosphoric acid for watery, slimy, greenish or brownish diarrhea, with or 
without griping pains; also when the animal is weak, thin, with poor or no- 
appetite; and for diarrhea in fevers of a typhoid nature. Cinchona is very 
useful in cases induced by hot weather, and not of an inflammatory char- 
acter; for chronic cases, with painless discharges, loss of flesh, appetite and 
strength; for intermittent cases, and as a tonic after the acute symptoms 
have disappeared. Give veratrum album when the discharges are alto- 
gether watery and involuntary, the pulse collapsed or almost imperceptible, 
the nose, mouth and ears cold, parts of the body moistened with cold 
sweat, the expression haggard; thirst, and occasional griping pains; admin- 
ister it every quarter of an hour at first and increase the intervals as the 
diarrhcea declines. Use mercurius corrosivus every half-hour when the 
dung is mixed with blood, or is merely mucus with wind and straining. 
If there is much pain, administer colocynth. Large draughts of linseed or 
olive oil will clear the bowels of any irritating substance, and they should 
be followed by starchy and mucilaginous drinks, Astringents and opiates 
should be given with caution, and never when there are any irritating sub- 
stances in the bowels. Give three or four times a day three table-spoonfuls 
of flour paste in a quart of water, or more water if the horse is thirsty, 
especially if the disorder has resulted from an overdose of physic; ciothe 
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