2 66 DISEASES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



The chief of means of prevention is pure water. This should 

 be rain water in a limestone region, and a similar result is also at- 

 tained by giving succulent food, as pasture grass in summer, and 

 gruels, mashes, roots, and particularly ensilage, in winter. When 

 animals have renal stones it is often better to fatten and kill them. 

 The administration of one dram of hydrochloric acid or of potas- 

 sium hydrate in the drinking water once daily may prevent the 

 formation of stone — although in diametrically opposite ways. 



Urticaria — Nettlerash — Surfeit — Hives. 



Urticaria is due to external irritation from nettles, bites of 

 insects, fleas, lice, chemicals, and to sudden cooling after over- 

 heating. Also to the generation of irritants within the body, com- 

 monly to the products of indigestion and toxines produced in the 

 course of acute infections. 



During pregnancy, rheumatism, hemoglobinemia, and through 

 the influence of specific foods and medicines, urticaria is sometimes 

 induced. It is characterized by flat lumps of varying size on the 

 skin covered with roughened hair, which appear, disappear, and 

 coalesce with surprising rapidity, often forming large elevated areas 

 (giant urticaria). The skin lesions are occasionally associated 

 with redness and swelling of the mucous membranes, which also 

 change in appearance and site within a short space of time. Where 

 the skin is white — as in swine — a red areola may be seen about the 

 lesions and sometimes vesicles surmount them. 



Treatment. — When the cause of the disease is uncertain or 

 liable to be caused by indigestion, a purge is advisable : In horses, an 

 aloes ball; cattle, Epsom or Glauber's salts; swine, calomel (3ss-i), 

 in their food; dogs, one to three compound cathartic pills. Ex- 

 ternal remedies are chiefly useful in allaying itching, which, how- 

 ever, is often not marked in animals. For this purpose saleratus 

 (one teaspoonful to the quart of water) or vinegar, diluted or un- 

 diluted, are efficient. Sanitas, diluted with an equal amount of 

 water, and terebene (i to 8) in water, are also beneficial. 



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