ON RED-WATER IN CATTLE. 
97 
Opium is a powerful agent in arresting gangrene, consequently 
is useful in stopping morbidly increased secretions. It also allays 
pain and constitutional irritation. 
Nitrous ether is a febrifuge in doses of fl. fss. to fl. §j, and is 
found to rouse, to a certain degree, the exhausted powers of the 
animal, while it rarely brings back the dangerous febrile action 
that was subsiding. 
Ginger, as an aromatic, has few equals. It is characterised by 
the best medical authorities as being an excellent medicine in 
debility and laxity of the stomach and intestines, increasing their 
nervous energy, and, in cases of torpidity of the bowels and obsti- 
nate constipation, exciting more powerful vascular action. 
Anise and caraway seeds are very mild in their action, and 
therefore safe. 
Sulphate of magnesia. The propriety of using large quantities 
of this salt requires consideration. According to Thomson, it 
increases the secretion of bile and the pancreatic fluid. Were this 
the case, its exhibition would, indeed, be questionable. Professor 
Liebig takes a different view of its action : “ When a solution of 
a salt in a certain degree of dilution is introduced into the stomach, 
it is absorbed ; but a concentrated saline solution, in place of its 
being itself absorbed, extracts water from the organ, and a violent 
thirst ensues. Some interchange of water takes place with the salt 
in the stomach. The coats of this viscus yield water to the solution, 
a part of which, having previously become sufficiently diluted, is, 
on the other hand, absorbed ; but the greater part of the concen- 
trated solution of salt remains unabsorbed, and is not removed by 
the urinary passages. It consequently enters the intestines and 
intestinal canal, where it causes a dilution of the solid substances 
deposited therein, and thus acts as a purgative.” Liebig further 
states, that the composition of the salts has nothing to do with 
their action as a purgative, in as far as the production of that action 
is concerned. Great difference of opinion exists as to the intensity 
of that action, which depends on a physical property shared in all 
of them ; but besides this, they exercise a medicinal action, be- 
cause every part of the organism they come in contact with absorbs 
a certain quantity of them. 
Croton seeds. Although I have not had an opportunity of 
using these seeds in this disease, still I embrace the opportunity 
of recommending them, for I have it from the best authority, that 
they are most valuable agents in all obstinate constipations, more 
especially in combination with sulph. magn., perhaps from eight to 
twelve seeds, which would be from thirty to forty grains. They 
favour the production of watery faeces. 
Ant. tart, acts as a febrifuge, tends to lower the action of the 
