THE OX—THE SKIN. 263 
GOITRE. 
Goitre is a tumor with enlarged gland on the neck, usually the left 
side, and is sometimes chronic. The animal carries the head outward and 
upward, at times bellows in distress, and has a painful cough. 
TREATMENT.—Spongia, continued some time, is useful; iodine is also. 
Mercurius and drosera may be required. An occasional lotion of mer- 
curius-corrosivus may be used. As the disorder is due to the properties of 
the drinking-water and the soil—chiefly lime and phosphates—a change of 
water and pasture will afford the surest grounds of hope of a cure. At 
best, protracted treatment will be necessary. 
WORMS IN THE BACK. 
Worms in the back are caused by the gad-fly piercing the skin and 
laying eggs, which hatch, leaving maggots that remain until the next 
summer, before escaping as gad-flies, unless removed by treatment. These 
maggots live on the pus resulting from a tumor which becomes as large as 
a small filbert. They cause pain, irritation, pus-formations, loss of strength, 
and damage to the hide by perforating it. They attack only healthy cattle. 
TREATMENT.— Through the small opening which will be found in the 
tumor, thrust a small instrument or red-hot needle and thus destroy the 
maggots, carefully searching the whole back for them. The same advan- 
tage may be gained by squeezing the tumor and thus crushing or forcing 
out the worm; or by frequently washing the tumors with camphorated 
brandy. Give sulphur internally after the above treatment. 
LICE. 
Lice afflict calves and young cattle especially, and are found chiefly 
behind the horns and ears, on the membrane passing down from the throat, 
on the withers, and back of the neck. 
TREATMENT.—Dress well with olive oil, or with equal parts of water 
(or glycerine) and sulphurous acid. A lotion of carbolic acid is also *good. 
If eruptions caused by the lice do not disappear when the insects are re- 
moved, give a few doses of arsenicum. Observe perfect cleanliness and 
destroy the bedding of an infected animal. It will be well to rub all ob- 
jects which the infected animal has touched with carbolic acid. Keep the 
animal in good health and flesh, to ward off lice. Fowls roosting about 
the stable very often impart lice to cattle, and their removal is often 
necessary. 
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