454 
ON THE MILK FEVER IN CATTLE, 
live days, and after that the animal has been saved. This, how¬ 
ever, was a rare and a fortunate case. 
The state of the bowels during the whole of the complaint is 
very uncertain. Sometimes a considerable degree of costiveness 
prevails; at others there is violent diarrhoea or dysentery, and 
the fseces are extremely offensive. In either case physic is in¬ 
dicated, and in the latter even more than the former. The pulse 
is very different in different cases. In the early stage it is 
usually quickened, but in some cases slower than the natural 
standard; in every case, however, it is hard . In the second stage 
it is always accelerated, and generally weak. 
The most skilful treatment of the second stage is too often 
unsuccessful: the powers of nature are too far exhausted ever again 
to rally. The pulse must be carefully examined, and the gene¬ 
ral appearance and the remaining strength of the animal; and 
according to these, and with the finger constantly on the pulse, 
must the quantity of blood to be extracted be regulated ; for I 
would always bleed even here, except the cow was evidently 
dying. This apparent weakness is occasionally very deceptive. 
It is the consequence of oppression and venous congestion, and 
not of exhaustion. Bleeding, with the finger on the pulse, should 
never be omitted, and if the flow of blood is stopped as soon as the 
pulse begins to falter, no harm can be done; generally temporary 
relief is obtained, and sometimes permanent good. Physic should 
here likewise follow the bleeding, and be repeated until the 
bow r els be freely opened in cases of constipation, or the fseces 
have assumed thei rnatural character, if there has been dysentery 
or foetid discharge. To this should succeed the exhibition of 
tonics, w 7 ith aromatics, as gentian and ginger, in doses of half 
an ounce of the first and two drachms of the second, and given 
in a pint of good sound ale, or port wine and water, or, in cases 
of extreme debility, undiluted wine, and repeated twice in the 
day. The spirit of turpentine is occasionally given with consi¬ 
derable effect*. 
* The following* is Mr. Knowlson’s recipe: “ Take two ounces each ot 
powdered aniseeds, grains of paradise, turmeric, carraway seeds, beast 
spice, and mithridate, and a quarter of an ounce of oil of almonds. Put 
them altogether in two quarts of warm ale, and give half of it every six 
hours. This is a great support, and will help to renew the blood.”—P. 50. 
Clater, after recommending a doubly-outrageous dose of aromatics and 
bitters, with ardent spirits, says, that “ the good etFccts of the drink will 
soon be evident by its anti-febrile qualities, and that it promotes the milky 
secretions by destroying the acidit}^ which has a tendency to choke up the 
lacteal vessels, and bring on an inflammation in the udder.”— Cattle. 
Doctor , p. 148. 
We know that the system in this state of collapse will bear, without 
injury, excessive stimulation ; but this seems to bo a truly kill or cure 
course of proceeding. 
