182 THE PREVAILING DISEASE IN CATTLE, SHEEP, &c. 
In some cases there is a tendency to constipation of the 
bowels, and in them the pulse becomes increased in frequency, 
rising to 80 or upwards. When the teats are blistered, great 
care is necessary in milking, so as not to draw them too much, 
and thus excite active inflammation, which may extend to the 
udder and produce serious disease. I have met with one case of 
this kind, in which the inflammation was caused by the dairy- 
maid introducing straws into the teats to draw off* the milk. In 
almost every other case, the parts have soon got well by simply 
washing daily with the solution of alum, and anointing them 
with a little lard or palm oil. The hind-feet are most commonly 
affected, which seems to arise from their being more exposed to 
filth and moisture ; and unless these causes are avoided, the parts 
are apt to become much inflamed, and deep and extensive slough- 
ings (even to the extent of casting the hoof or sloughing of one 
or both the digits) will be almost certain to occur. These effects 
prove extremely troublesome and tedious, produce considerable 
fever, and may even prove fatal. Sloughing sores are, perhaps, 
sometimes produced by bathing or rather scalding the parts with 
too hot water during the first stages of the disease (and such 
causes must be avoided), or by the application of too powerful 
escharotics when there is much inflammation or soreness about 
the feet : when this occurs, poultices of bran should be applied, 
or a lotion of blue vitriol (sulphate of copper) half an ounce to a 
quart of water, or of white vitriol (sulphate of zinc) one ounce to 
a quart of water, and a little resinous ointment. If there is much 
active inflammation, a lotion consisting of one ounce of acetate 
or sugar of lead to a quart of water may be mixed with the 
poultice. When the disease first makes its appearance, I have 
found a dose of one pound of Epsom salts with four ounces of 
sulphur, given at once, and half the quantity of each the next 
morning, if the first has not operated, and repeated in twelve 
hours, with a drachm of croton cake, one of the best remedies 
which can be employed. If the pulse rises, two drachms of an- 
timonial powder, with four of nitre, may be given night and 
morning until it is reduced. If the bowels again become con- 
stipated, another dose of salts and sulphur should be adminis- 
tered, as the most important object is to produce a healthy action 
of the bowels. In some cases, slight symptoms of red-water 
make their appearance, but these are soon removed by laxative 
medicine. If the pulse falls, from four to eight drachms of sul- 
phate of iron, given in gruel as a tonic night and morning, are 
of service. The mouth may be gargled two or three times with 
a solution of alum (one ounce dissolved in a quart of water) ; 
and a lotion of sulphate of copper (half an ounce to a quart of 
