DISKASES AND REMEDIES. 473 



does not take place, and the blood is in consequence transferred 

 to some other part or parts, as the peritoneum, the bowels, kid- 

 neys, &c., which deranges the whole animal frame and produces 

 the milk fever. 



Symptoms. — This disease is first perceived hj the animal 

 refraining from food, and looking dull and heavy. A cold shiver- 

 ing fit comes on, accompanied with so much debility that the 

 beast commonly drops, and is unable to rise, until she obtains 

 some relief from medicine. The animal becomes very restless, 

 and appears to experience great pain in the body, as she often 

 looks towards the flanks, and. kicks with her feet, and seems 

 very much distressed. The head, as the disease proceeds, is in 

 general so severely affected that the cow loses her senses, and 

 will knock and bruise her head against anything, and do herself 

 much injury, if great care is not taken. The pulse is quick, 

 being about seventy in a minute; and the tongue parching dry. 

 The bowels are costive; there is no secretion of milk; and the 

 slimy discharge from the barren ceases. As the disease advances, 

 the belly becomes enlarged; if purging medicines lessen the 

 swelling of the body, it is a good sign ; but if they are made 

 use of, and the belly still increases in size, there are little hopes 

 of her recovery. 



Cure. — If the feverish symptoms run high, attended with much 

 pain, it will be proper to take three or four quarts of blood.* A . 

 purging drink should always be administered as early as possible. 

 The following is highly recommended by some practitioners: 



Nitre, . . . . . . . . .2 onnces. 



Ginger, powdered, ...... 1 ounce, 



Epsom salts, . . . . . . . .1 pound. 



Aniseeds, powdered, ...... 1 ounce, 



Treacle, . . . . . . . . 4 ounces. 



Pour three pints of boiling water upon the ingredients, and let them be given, 

 when new milk warm. 



This drink must be repeated in the space of eighteen or twenty 



hours, if it does not operate before that time. If the bowels are 



moved with difficulty, the following clyster may be injected — 



having racked the animal previously : 



Common salt, half a pound. 



Treacle ? o™<^«?. 



Spirits of turpentine, half a pint. 



Thin gruel ,_.••. ^ • r ^ '""l^- 



Mixed, and when new milk warm, it must be injected or forced up the anus. 



* See this disease, pages 437-8.— L. F. A. 



