92 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



over the throat. Stimulating liniments, mustard mixed with cold 

 water and well rubbed in with a stiff brush, or other forms of counter- 

 irritation may be applied in severe cases. Hot inhalations should be 

 frequently resorted to, and often afford much relief to the suffering 

 animal. In this disease medicines should be given so far as possible 

 in the form of electuaries (soft solid), on account of the difficulty of 

 deglutition. Large drafts of medicines have a tendency to produce 

 violent spells of coughing, and in this way retard recovery. The 

 subjoined formula for an electuary will be found to answer the pur- 

 pose in ordinary cases: Chlorate of potassium, pulverized, 8 ounces; 

 fluid extract of belladonna, 2 ounces; powdered opium, 1 ounce; pow- 

 dered licorice root, 8 ounces; sirup, sufficient quantity; mix. At 

 frequent intervals place a small tablespoonful of the mixture on the 

 tongue or back teeth. Or the following may be used instead : Aloes, 

 powdered opium, and gum camphor in equal parts; mix. Rub an 

 ounce on the molar teeth every four or five hours. The bowels should 

 be kept open and the diet should be such as the patient can easily 

 swallow. Warm, sloppy mashes, boiled oatmeal gruel, linseed tea, 

 and the like are the most suitable substances. If suffocation be 

 threatened during the course of the disease tracheotomy should 

 be performed without delay. The details of the operation are fully 

 described under the head of " Surgical operations." (See p. 292.) 



When the disease assumes a chronic form strong counterirritation 

 is indicated. A cantharides blister may be applied, or the following 

 ointment may be used: Biniodid of mercury 1 part, lard 6 parts; 

 mix. In some cases it will be found necessary to repeat the above 

 application. 



BRONCHITIS. 



Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the 

 bronchial tubes. When a primary disease it is generally the result 

 of what is commonly known as "catching cold." It may be secondary 

 to or complicated with many of the diseases of the respiratory system. 

 It may also be caused by breathing irritating gases ; or by the intro- 

 duction of foreign bodies into the bronchial tubes, which sometimes 

 results from injudicious and careless drenching when the larynx is in 

 a temporarily relaxed state. It may be acute or chronic, and is 

 divided, according to the seat of the inflammation, into bronchitis 

 proper where the large tubes are affected, or capillary bronchitis 

 where the smaller tubes are affected. 



Symptoms. — Loss of appetite, elevation of temperature, generally 

 104° or 105° F. The inspiration is incomplete, short, and painful, 

 and the expiration is prolonged. The pulse is increased in frequency 

 and is hard. A characteristic and painful cough is present, but it is 

 paroxysmal and incomplete. Auscultation and percussion greatly 

 aid us in a diagnosis. A normal sound is observed on percussion. 



