22 
ON HEPATITIS IN THE OX. 
lity ; either of which may excite inflammation in the mucous coat 
of the bowels, or increase the peristaltic motion. Although 
diarrhma and constipation are the effect of a morbid biliary secre¬ 
tion, they may and do originate from other causes ; hut the prac¬ 
tised eye will have but little difficulty in deciding from the colour 
of the excrement the nature of the ailment. 
The successful treatment of a disorder in which every action 
and function of animal life is apparently deranged would seem to 
require a great variety of medicinal agents: but so far as my 
limited experience has enabled me to make practical observation, 
in cases of acute inflammation of the liver calomel is both an 
active and efficient remedy. Of course, it requires considerable 
professional tact to apportion the dose in the different stages of the 
complaint; but the practical knowledge of every veterinarian will 
suggest the proper quantity. In medically treating the maladies 
of neat cattle and sheep, it is necessary to husband the natural 
resources of the animal economy; and, whether we intend to eva¬ 
cuate the calomel by a cathartic, or to retain it in the system, it 
answers the purpose best when it is given to these animals com¬ 
bined with opium and aromatics. 
If we are early in attendance, little more is required than to 
abstract a small quantity of blood and to administer a full dose of 
calomel, which may be mixed in a little gruel, or compounded 
with linseed meal, and as much water added as will make it of 
sufficient consistence to suspend the medicine: twelve hours after¬ 
wards a brisk cathartic may be given. Gum-gamboge, combined 
with the sulphate of magnesia, and dissolved in the hot infusion of 
chamomile, answer the purpose. 
If the patient should be in the straw yard, it is, generally 
speaking, better to omit the bleeding; and in these cases an oily 
mixture is preferable to the saline purgative. 
If the animal should have been ill for several days, and 
drenched with yeast, goose-grease, chicken’s guts, &c. &c., or the 
warm comfortable drinks of the old school, the case is generally 
one of a more serious nature. The strength of the patient is con¬ 
siderably reduced, the bowels are obstinately constipated, and a 
larger quantity of the submuriate of mercury is required to restore 
the liver to the performance of its healthy action. It may then be 
necessary to introduce it into the system cautiously and in small 
doses, which may be given every twelve hours, until the excre¬ 
ment is voided of the natural colour and consistence. When that 
is accomplished, small doses of Epsom salts, nitre, and emetic 
tartar may be dissolved in the infusion of chamomile, and given 
once or twice a-day, until the bowels are freely acted upon. 
If the appetite should be considerably impaired, and the patient 
