CATTLE, THEIR DISEASES. 
235 
symptoms and treatment of diseases. Only those most common, or 
fatal, will be specially noted. Fortunately veterinary art is congenial 
with the medical treatment of the human family, and the same paths that 
lead to a knowledge of human diseases will indicate to any ii teiligent 
local physician the means to he used with brutes. Humane physicians, 
now-a-days, — to their credit be it said — are not slow in coming to the 
relief of the farmer and stockman in prescribing and giving .dvicc in the 
absence of regular veterinary surgeons. Such are veritable b nef actors,' 
inasmuch as they greatiy alleviate distress and do much discourage 
quackery ; and when found, they should be freely consulted. This devi- 
ation from the regular medical practice, owing to the sparsely settled 
nature of many portions of the country, seems very necessary and 
even imperative. 
In the prescriptions for cattle, we shall use the most simple formulas 
possible, wherever found, and whatever simple medicines will avail, 
especially those compounded of herbs, as better adapted to the treatment 
of domestic animals. In connection with these, other agents, both min- 
eral and mechanical, must be employed. In short, what we have aimed 
at is to stato symptoms and remedies for such diseases as may be treated 
without the advice of a regular veterinary surgeon, and in such language 
as any intelligent person may understand. 
In this, whil we shall not attempt originality, except it may be in the 
matter of presentation in some instances, we shall use and quote from the 
very latest authorities in veterinary science in the United States, Eng- 
land, France, Germany, Austri , Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Italy, and 
other minor countries, where veterinary science has been accorded that 
respectability which should accrue to a labor having for its aims the sav- 
ing of life, and the amelioration of suffering, in a direction secoud in 
importance only to that of the human family ; and in preventing loss, so 
far as it may be possible, of live stock, the raising of which is of greater 
importance to mankind than any other single human industry Thus, in 
presenting symptoms, we shall use and quote freely from the latest works 
in reformed practice. "What we present will not be as seeking so much 
to aid the veterinary practitioner, as the farmer himself ; not a work to 
supersede other authorities, but a substitute, in a limited sense, as to the 
treatment of certain diseases, so th..t the intelligent reader may compre- 
hend ; advising, in every case, when the operator does not understand 
the symptoms clearly, to seek the advice of the professional veterinari n, 
if such may be had. If such be not within reach, then consult the best 
physician in the neighborhood. Diseases arc substantially the same in 
causes, symptoms and treatment, whether men or beasts be their subject* 
Remembering this may suggest a helpful course of treatment in many cases. 
