403 
RED-WATER IN CATTLE. 
animals are not yet turned out of the byre, and consequently are 
more likely to be free from these evils. It seems closely connected 
with the change which takes place in the cow after calving, and 
probably also a degree of indigestion ; and we would therefore re- 
commend that a dose of purgative medicine should be given to 
every cow immediately after calving, especially during the preva- 
lence of this epidemic. 
Acute red-water prevails mostly in spring and autumn, and in 
cows after calving ; and as the disease is at present prevalent, 
farmers should be very careful to guard against the first symptoms 
of it. 
It generally commences with diarrhoea, which is very soon after- 
wards followed by obstinate costiveness, at which time (but some- 
times at the beginning of the complaint) the water is seen to be 
red. There is also a considerable degree of fever, with tenderness 
of the loins, coldness of the extremities, &c. In the early stage 
the pulse is strong and full, evidently indicating blood-letting ; but 
when the disease has been neglected for a short time at the first, 
it is found weak and feeble, and the animal suffering from weak- 
ness. In all cases of high fever, when the pulse is full, quick, 
and hard, bleeding should be resorted to, followed up by purgatives 
and other antiphlogistic means. But as the disease is often con- 
siderably advanced before proper remedies can be applied, and as 
frequently great weakness has ensued from the passing of so much 
blood with the urine, the expediency of bleeding is, at least in 
such cases, very doubtful. Purgatives, however, combined with 
aromatics, must be persevered in. A good dose of Epsom salts, 
combined with ginger and carrui, should be given, followed by 
half-pound doses every eight or ten hours, until the bowels are 
thoroughly acted upon. This frequently does not take place till 
these medicines have been persevered in sometimes for three or 
four days : the commencement of purging is generally the sign of 
recovery. 
On examination after death, the contents of the maniplus are 
sometimes hard and dry, and at other times partially so ; the 
kidneys have a blanched appearance, and sometimes one or both 
shew spots of intense inflammation having existed : the uterus in 
cows recently calved is found very often inflamed and ulcerated. 
Chronic red-water is the form which this disease more generally 
assumes. It is principally a disease of the digestive organs, mostly 
confined to the third stomach, or maniplus, and the liver also 
generally suffers. The urine appears mostly of a brown or porter 
colour. In many cases a simple purgative immediately removes 
it, and indeed a natural diarrhoea often ensues with the same salu- 
tary result. 
