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DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
of time, without the advantage of a marsh or pool in which to lave his 
parched limbs and half-scorched carcass. Anoint the cracked parts 
twice or thrice a day with tar and lard melted up together. 
Ratille, or Swelling of the Spleen. — The symptom most positively in- 
dicative of this disease, is the circumstance of the affected animal lean- 
ing toward one side, cringing as it were, from internal pain, and bending 
toward the ground. The cause of the obstruction on which the disease 
depends is over-feeding, permitting the hog’s indulging its appetite to 
the utmost extent that gluttony may prompt and the capacity of its 
stomach admit of; a very short perseverance in this mode of manage- 
ment will produce this, as well as other maladies deriving their origin 
from a depraved condition of the secretions and obstruction of the ex- 
cretory ducts. 
On first perceiving the complaint, clear out the alimentary canal by 
means of a strong aperient. If you think you can manage it, you may 
administer this forcibly, by having the mouth kept open by two cords, 
that attached to the upper jaw being thrown across a joist, and drawn 
just so tight as to compel the patient to support himself on the extrem- 
ities of his fore-toes ; or allow the animal to fast for from four to five 
hours, he will then take a little sweet wash or broth, and in it you may 
mingle a dose of Epsom salts, proportioned to his bulk. This will 
generally effect the desired end of a copious evacuation, and the action 
of this medicine on the watery secretions will further relieve the existing 
diseased state of the spleen. Many recommend bleeding ; and if the 
affection have continued for any length of time, it should be resorted to 
at once; when the disease is, however, discovered ere it has attained any 
considerable head, the aperient will suffice. The French veterinarians 
recommend the expressed juice of the leaves and tops of wormwood and 
liverwort to be given, half a pint for a dose. The decoction of these 
plants produced by boiling them in soft water for six hours, may be 
given in doses of from half a pint to a pint and a half, according to the 
size, age, etc., of the patient. 
Scammony and rhubarb, mixed up in a bran mash, or with Indian 
meal, may be given with advantage the following day, or equal portions 
of blue-pill mass and compound colocynth pill, formed into a bolus with 
butter, and the animal, having been kept fasting the previous night, will 
probably swallow it; if he will not do so, let his fast continue for a 
couple of hours longer. Lower the animal’s diet, and keep him on re- 
duced fare, with exercise, and if you can manage it, grazing , until the 
malady has quite passed away; if you then wish to fatten, remember 
to do so gradually ; be cautious of at once restoring the patient to full 
diet. 
Surfeit. — Another name for indigestion ; the symptoms are such as 
might be expected — panting, loss of appetite, swelling of the region 
about the stomach, etc., and frequently throwing up the contents of the 
stomach. In general, this affection will pass away, provided it is only 
permitted to cure itself, and all food carefully kept from the patient for a 
few hours; a small quantity of sweet grains, with a little bran-wash, 
may then be given, but not nearly as much as the animal would wish to 
take. For a few days the food had better be limited in quantity, and 
