CASE OF DYSENTERY AND STAKING IN A COW. 95 
now mixed with a considerable quantity of serum, and is very 
offensive. The respiration is increased. I gave hyd. chlor. 3j, 
pulv. opii 3ss, ol. lini Oss in a little gruel. I rubbed on some more 
blister, as the other had not taken any effect ; I also ordered the 
same medicine as the last to be given shortly, a powder the same 
as last, Jxij ol. ricin., and some solut. of chloride of soda every 
hour in clysters and by the mouth. I fear the result. 
3 d day, 6 a.m. — The ol. ricin. ordered last night has not been 
given ; but early this morning, as no faeces had yet passed, Oiss 
of it was given. Pulse not above 80 — respiration more calm — 
the straining has entirely ceased — she frequently grunts. On exa- 
mining her rectum, I found it did not contain the blood and 
lymph as before, but some that was of the slimy nature that is 
seen sometimes around the dung of horses: upon the whole, I 
think she is better, but she is very weak. 
12 m. — She continues to grunt much, and lies down a great 
deal. Give 3 ss opii and 3j of hyd. chlor. 5 p.m. — Much weaker, 
and worse, and is evidently sinking. Bowels not open. Give 
3 v j pulv. zingib., 3iij pulv. gentian, and a small cupful of brandy. 
4th day . — She died about 6 in the morning. 
Examination . — As she lay in the cowhouse, a portion of the 
rectum had prolapsed, and it looked like a secretion of dark 
venous blood. On cutting open the abdomen, the bowels had 
every appearance of being in a healthy state ; but on opening 
the intestines they (especially the large ones) were streaked 
lengthways with blackish lines, and the mucous coat was thickened 
a little : they had not, however, except here and there on the large 
ones, that vascular appearance which is sometimes found. The 
rectum was no more diseased than any other part, except a portion 
that was prolapsed, the dark colour of which, no doubt, was pro- 
duced by its being grasped by the sphincter and exposed to the air. 
I could not find any extravasation of blood in the intestines, and 
not much of that stringy sort of lymph or secretion alluded to. 
What was in them was of a liquid nature, and like gruel. The 
first and second stomachs were not above half filled with matter, 
almost fluid. The third stomach was completely distended, and 
highly constipated, except a little about its openings. Between 
its leaves the contents were quite dry and hard. Many of the 
plaits were dark and inflamed. The fourth was sound. All other 
parts healthy. 
Remarks . — The night previous to her illness was very wet, and 
the next morning she was off her milk, and trembled a great deal, 
and soon after the salts were given her. Now, whether the change 
of weather or the food was the cause, I cannot say : most likely 
the two were conjoined. I do not now think that the bowels were 
