Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
467 
preserve the normal action of the excreting organs without 
unduly exciting them, to guard against the tendency to desqua- 
mation of epithelial tissue, particularly in respect of the feet, 
and to afford all the support to the system which is necessary to 
counteract the depressing action of the poison. 
These indications are fulfilled by the employment of salines, 
which are best given in the water which the animal drinks, as 
injury to the mouth by the violent use of the drenching horn is 
thereby avoided. 
Chlorate of potash, sulphate of soda, and hyposulphite of soda, 
are the agents which are most effective and most easily adminis- 
tered. Sulphate of soda is useful when it is desirable to obtain 
a laxative action on the bowels. Four ounces of this salt may 
be dissolved in half a bucket of water, and placed in the 
animal's reach. The dose may be repeated as soon as the 
first quantity of fluid has been taken, and again, if necessary, in 
twelve hours, until the dejections are in a satisfactory state. 
Chlorate of potash is valuable when the mouth is much affected ; 
the agent passes readily into the blood, and possesses, in addition 
to its febrifuge properties, considerable power in rectifying 
morbid changes in the circulating fluid. An ounce of the agent 
may be given in the drinking-water once or twice a day, ac- 
cording to the state of the animal. 
Hyposulphite of soda, like the chlorate of potash, has a de- 
cidedly antiseptic property, and arrests putrefactive fermenta- 
tion, therefore it is effective in blood-diseases ; it is tasteless, 
cheap, and easily obtained, and, in any quantities that are likely 
to be administered, perfectly harmless. These advantages en- 
title the drug to a much higher position in veterinary medicine 
than it has yet attained. 
Hyposulphite of soda may be dissolved in the drinking- 
water in such proportion that the animal may take about four 
ounces daily for a few days, after which the dose should be 
reduced to one-half the amount. 
Sheep, which do not drink much when at grass, will take the 
medicine when it is mixed with tempting food, as bruised oats 
with a little malt ; the dose may be calculated at one-fourth the 
quantity for an ox. In case of cattle refusing to drink the 
medicated water, the same plan of mixing the medicine with 
the food may be tried ; but if both food and water are objected 
to when thus medicated, it will be in most cases much better to 
leave the animals without medicine than to administer it forcibly, 
unless complications, which require special treatment, should 
occur. Separation of the hoofs from the secreting membrane will 
be in a great degree prevented by early attention to the feet, and 
the necessity for this special care will be apparent when it is 
VOL. IX. — S. S. 2 I 
