414 
OBSTRUCTION AND INFLAMMATION 
The treatment of the cow after calving is generally, in this part 
of the country, confided to the mistress of the house, or, under 
her directions, to the oldest of the servants, ignorant, stupid, 
and superstitious : the result is not to be wondered at. As soon 
as she gets the poor animal trailed into the world, it must be 
dragged by the heels along the pavement to put its blood in cir¬ 
culation ; an egg, shell and all, is crammed down its throat, 
along with a little of its mother’s dung, to give it the cud, and it 
is then taken away. The cow is next attended to. A handful of 
salt is thrown over her back to keep away the witches ; and “ the 
puir beast maun hae a slieef o’ beer (barley) an’ a drink o’ meal an ’ 
water, to fill her up and perhaps she is visited every half hour, 
instead of being left quiet; and at every visit something extra is 
given. The consequence is, that the additional quantity of 
grain and other kinds of food, added to the predisposing causes 
of disease connected with calving, &c., brings about constipa¬ 
tion, inflammation, and fever, and which generally occur from 
one to three weeks after parturition. I have always thought 
that this mode of treatment is the frequent cause of the 
disease, of two fatal cases of which, that occurred in my practice, 
I send you an account:— 
Two fine cows, belonging to Mr. Wilson, of Moorfoot, were 
taken ill in the beginning of April, and died. I did not see 
them, but was informed of their symptoms, and that the many- 
plus in both was as hard as a stone. 
May 15 th .—Two other cows were taken ill. An old Highland 
beggar, pretending to be a cow-doctor, happened to be there, 
and prescribed the following, as the cows had symptoms of red- 
water: “ A hare-skin pounded sma’, an’ a tankard (two quarts) 
fu’ o’ saut (salt).” Mr. W. thought proper to give her, in addition 
to this, a quart of olive oil. I was sent for next day ; the cow was 
better; but whether the doctor’s prescription or Mr. W.’s oil 
had wrought the charm, I could not say. My opinion was, that 
she had not been seriously ill at all. 
The other was really bad. When I was sent for, she had got 
her saut the night before, but not the hare-skin. I bled her to 
the amount of six quarts, gave a pound of Epsom salts, ordered 
clysters every three hours, and a bottle of linseed oil at the end 
of six hours. 
Next day, pulse 70, respiration 32. I gave croton oil, 30 drops 
in gruel, followed by hall’ a pound of Epsom salts. I also or¬ 
dered linseed oil 1 pint, and aloes in sol. ; and half a pound 
of Epsom salts, alternately with the former every eight hours, 
or until active purging commenced. 
1 8th. —Symptoms rather worse; pulse 78, respiration 30: 
