DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS I5I 



linseed oil. The rectum and lower bowel should 

 be washed out with large injections of simple warm 

 water. For chronic forms lo grains of calomel, a 

 teaspoonful of opium, and 4 tablespoons each of 

 gentian and chalk are advised. These are to be 

 mixed and given either as a ball or as a drench once 

 a day. Six tablespoonfuls of laudanum in a pint 

 of boiled starch every two hours until the straining 

 ceases, is also very good. When cattle are affected, 

 remove from grass or other succulent food, put on 

 a dry diet and give a pint of linseed oil every day 

 until recovery. If the action of the bowels does 

 not cease promptly, give 2 tablespoonfuls of pow- 

 dered alum and 2 tablespoonfuls of powdered ginger 

 in a quart of milk once or twice a day until the dis- 

 charge moderates. An excellent medicine is 10 

 tablespoonfuls of castor oil and 4 tablespoonfuls 

 of laudanum mixed with linseed gruel and given 

 as a drench. 



ENTERITIS.— See Inflammation of the Bowels. 



EPILEPSY.— See Fits. 



EPIZOOTIC— See Influenza. 



ERGOTISM. — A parasitic fungus that grows on 

 different species of grass and produces in one stage 

 of its development black or purple enlarged spurs 

 causes ergotism. The disastrous effect of ergot 

 seems to appear in the late fall and winter, when 

 hay or straw infected with ergot are continuously 

 fed. The animals will be troubled with irritation 

 of the bowels and a sloughing off of the extrem- 

 ities. Frequently the animals lose parts of their 

 tails or ears or hoofs. In others, gangrenous sores 

 appear. In the early stages of the poisoning 

 the symptoms are not clearly marked. The 

 best treatment is secured by an entire change 

 of food, so as to remove the cause, and then 



