INFECTION WITH DISTOMA HEPATICUM 55 



If the veterinarian is called in when the dropsical 

 swelling is confined to the region of the jaw and has 

 had enough experience with the disease so that he rec- 

 ognizes the condition, he can give reasonable assur- 

 ance that the cow will survive in good condition at 

 the end of two or three weeks. 



In localities in which this disease occurs quite regu- 

 larly a dropsical swelling under the jaw should al- 

 ways excite suspicion of this disease. If there is in- 

 appetence and constipation at the same time with a 

 slight elevation of temperature, we incise the swell- 

 ing. If the contents are clear and watery and have 

 the characteristic sweet-acid odor, it is safe to diag- 

 nose infection with Fasciola hepaticum. 



In occasional cases it may be possible to determine 

 distinct tenderness in the right flank and right an- 

 terior quadrant of the abdomen. Another early symp- 

 tom is frequent shifting or changing of the front 

 limbs : the cow flexes one knee and then the other, 

 off and on. 



The treatment which we have used with very good 

 results in this disease is somewhat troublesome, but 

 this should not deter one from adopting it, especially 

 if the cow affected is a valuable animal. 



We begin with incision of the dropsical swellings, 

 making the openings where the fluid will drain out 

 freely and where the wound will not do other dam- 

 age. The incisions should be quite extensive, so as to 

 assure constant leakage from them. One or two in- 

 cisions properly located in the swellings will exude 

 several gallons of fluid in the course of twenty-four 

 hours. 



The medicinal treatment consists of Fowler's solu- 

 tion of arsenic and iodid of potassium given at the 

 same time. We give an ounce of Fowler's solution 



