574 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
If a change of food does not prove effectual, give the 
animal half-an-ounce of prepared chalk in a pint of cow’s 
milk, slightly warmed. If the purging has not been sub¬ 
dued by this, it may be repeated on the second day. If the 
discharge is very great, and accompanied by symptoms of 
pain and straining, two drachms of rhubarb may be given 
as a first dose, and chalk as a second. If this has not the 
effect of relieving the animal, then from twenty to thirty 
drops of laudanum may be given with advantage, and after¬ 
wards the chalk, as above recommended. 
DYSENTERY. 
Symptoms. —This complaint is distinguished from the 
last disease by being always accompanied with fever, and 
other symptoms of an inflammatory condition of the in¬ 
testines, whereas diarrhoea is generally a state of simple 
irritation or weakness of the bowels. In dysentery there 
is great pain, frequent gripings, especially when at stool; 
the matter discharged is in hard balls, accompanied by 
mucous blood, and often purulent matter from the bowels. 
Sheep affected with dysentery have generally the wool 
clapped, with a languid expression of eye, the mouth dry, 
and rough skin, with a greatly accelerated pulse. When the 
disease is in an advanced state, the fasces are very black 
and fetid. The animal eats very little, and is rendered 
incapable of ruminating. This complaint frequently ends 
fatally. 
Remedies. —The treatment of dysentery should be com¬ 
menced with blood-letting, in greater or less quantity, ac¬ 
cording to the condition of the animal and the severity of 
the disease. Mild laxatives should be persevered in, and 
emollient injections, until symptoms of recovery become 
manifest. After bleeding, give the animal from twenty-five 
