ON RED-WATER IN CATTLE. 323 
diseased or rather disordered digestive organs; and the latter to 
nephritis, of an active or passive character. 
In order to prevent misconception or error as to the malady in 
question, and the name red-water, to which latter disease alone 
the name is strictly applicable, it will be to a consideration of the 
former complaint alone that I shall confine my subject, or that the 
following essay will apply. 
Red-water or bloody urine, and black-water, although com¬ 
monly described in books on farriery under two heads, and as two 
different diseases, are, in point of reality, only a modification, or the 
later stage, of one disease. Red-water, when overlooked or neg¬ 
lected, and in innumerable instances even when remedial measures 
have been employed, invariably terminates in black-water; or, in 
other words, this appears to be a later stage of the disease to which 
red-water must proceed, prior to convalescence or death, as is exem¬ 
plified in the former case by the urine gradually retrograding from 
black to red, &c. until it finally assumes its natural hue. 
That the digestive organs are the onlv sources of ailment is 
clearly demonstrable from diarrhoea being the premonitory symp¬ 
tom, and, in many instances, nature thus effects her own cure. 
If the disease is observed at this conjuncture of time, the administra¬ 
tion of an aperient medicine prevents all untoward symptoms. If 
this, however, is neglected, constipation ensues—the urine becomes 
red, and, unless by the administration of purgatives the costiveness 
is overcome, its colour deepens and changes to black: the conjunc¬ 
tiva also is tinged yellow, as well as the skin, and, finally, the 
milk itself, if any is secreted, partakes of the discolouration, hav¬ 
ing acquired a bitter taste. 
The fact, also, of the water becoming turned, as it is called, 
immediately prior to purgation from the effect of cathartics, and 
not being altered in colour during the stage of diarrhoea, but be¬ 
coming red or brown immediately upon constipation taking place, 
speaks volumes; and, although the causes of red-water may and 
do, upon a slight and cursory inspection, appear numerous, and in 
many instances mysterious, nay, even inexplicable—as is the well- 
known fact, that certain farms and pastures, and even particular 
parts of pastures, arc known to produce it—yet, 1 think, these and 
all other circumstances which can be adduced may be summarily 
and satisfactorily disposed of in these few words —any tJiiny 
which fends to disorder the digestive organs. In this are in¬ 
cluded atmospheric influence, as hot and long-continued dry wea¬ 
ther, or fine, warm, and growing weather in spring, supervening on 
a severe cold and sterile winter; or a variety in food, as a change 
from low, mossy, marshy lands, wlujre tlu‘ herbage is rank and 
unwholesome, to high limeslono land, where the produce is short, 
