272 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



if it should, change of feed and pasture land will be the 

 lirst things to be attended to; and, if necessaiy, after a 

 trial of new feed and pasture, a few powders composed of 

 prepared chalk, two ounces ; ginger, half an ounce ; opium, 

 one drachm ; may be mixed and given in the form of a 

 drench, with wheat flour griiel. Repeat the dose, if it be 

 necessary, but never be in a hurry to give astringents in 

 looseness of the bowels, as much mischief may be done by 

 controverting the efforts of nature, which are always of 

 salutary effect, if not too violent for the condition of the 

 beast, and in that case interference is necessary. 



(1.) DiAERHCEA, Chronic. — This condition is some- 

 times called the Rot, from the belief that the animal is 

 rotten. Chronic, or indeed, any kind of diarrhoea should 

 not be looked upon as a disease at all, but merely a symp- 

 tom of internal irritation of some kind. 



Causes. This is an important inquiry in cattle pathology, 

 for farmers are sometimes disappointed when they are told 

 the animal will die within a given time, not knowing the 

 nature of the disease of which diarrhoea and dysentery are 

 but the symptoms. Chronic diarrhoea is the sequel to 

 tuberculous consumption already described under that 

 head ; or dysentery may show itself before even consump- 

 tion is either thought of or recognized. However, chronic 

 diarrhoea or dysentery is the result of tubercles situated on, 

 and in the white membranes throughout the body. 



Treatment. Generous diet, composed of linseed or cake 

 meal. Commercial sulphuric acid, gentian, and sulphate 

 of iron, are the medicines employed. In addition to this 

 treatment, which has already been recommended for con- 

 sumption, I would advise weekly inhalations of sulphurous 

 acid gas in the manner recommended under that head in 

 the list of medicines, (which see,) for I think this is one of 



