118 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



and from eating irritant plants (broom, savin, mercury, hellebore, 

 ranunculus, convolvulus, colchicum, oak shoots, ash, privet, hazel, 

 hornbeam, and other astringent, acrid, or resinous plants, etc.). The 

 maybug or Spanish fly taken with the food or spread over a great extent 

 of skin as a blister has a similar action. Frosted turnips or other roots 

 will bring on the affection in some subjects. Among conditions which 

 act by the direct destruction of the globules in the circulating blood 

 may be named an excess of water in that fluid; the use of water from 

 soils rich in decomposing vegetable matter and containing alkaline 

 salts, particularly nitrites; and the presence in the water and food of 

 the ptomaines of bacteria growth. Hence the prevalence of "red 

 water" in marshy districts and on clayey and other impervious soils. 

 Hence, too, the occurrence of bloody urine in the advanced stages of 

 several contagious diseases. Some mineral poisons — such as iodin, 

 arsenic, and phosphorus taken to excess — may cause hematuria, and 

 finally the symptoms may be the mere result of a constitutional predis- 

 position of the individual or family to bleeding. Exposure of the body 

 to cold or wet will cause the affection in some predisposed subjects. 



The specific symptom of bloody or smoky water is a very patent one. 

 It may or may not be associated with fever, with the presence or absence 

 of abdominal tenderness on pressure, with a very frothy state of the 

 milk or even a reddish tinge, with or without marked paleness of the 

 mucous membranes, and general weakness. When direct injury to 

 the kidneys is the immediate cause of the disease the urine will be 

 passed often, in small quantity at a time, and with much straining. 

 When there is bloodlessness (a watery blood) from insufficient nourish- 

 ment, fever is absent and the red water is at first the only symptom. 

 When the active cause has been irritant plants, abdominal tenderness, 

 colics, and other signs of bowel inflammation are marked features. 



Treatment. — Treatment will vary according as the cause has been 

 a direct irritant operating on a subject in vigorous health or a micro- 

 bian poison acting on an animal deficient in blood and vigor. In the 

 first form of red water a smart purgative (1 pound to \\ pounds 

 Glauber's salts) will clear away the irritants from the bowels and allay 

 the coexistent high fever. It will also serve to divert to the bowels 

 much of the irritant products already absorbed into the blood, and 

 will thus protect the kidneys. In many such cases a liberal supply of 

 wholesome, easily digestible food will be all the additional treatment 

 required. In this connection demulcent food (boiled flaxseed, wheat 

 bran) is especially good. If much blood has been lost, bitters (gen- 

 tian, one-half ounce) and iron (sulphate of iron, 2 drams) should be 

 given for a week. 



For cases in which excess of diuretic plants has been taken, it may 

 be well to replace the salts by 1 to 2 pints olive oil, adding 1 ounce 

 laudanum and 2 drams gum camphor. Also to apply fomentations or 

 a fresh sheepskin over the loins. Buttermilk or vinegar, one-half 



