96 FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON DIARKHCEA IN CATTLE. 
degree as to impair the functions of the organ. Hence the food 
passes into the abomasum in too crude a state for its powers of 
assimilation, and the consequence probably is, that it acts as a 
constant source of irritation on the intestinal canal. 
Although I have said that the exciting causes of diarrhoea 
may be either an obstruction of the third stomach, or a morbid 
action of the liver; yet, in a majority of cases, there is such a 
similarity of symptoms, that I am unable to distinguish the one 
from the other. If the history of the case is such, however, as 
will lead us to suspect the third stomach, of course the first indi¬ 
cation of treatment is to evacuate its contents. We might na¬ 
turally suppose that this object would be easily attained by 
cathartics ; but I must confess that I am rather sceptical as to 
their solvent powers upon cakes of food which are perfectly dry, 
and apparently pressed until their texture is almost incredibly 
firm. I usually commence the treatment with the administration 
of a saponaceous oily mixture ; not supposing that it is the 
greatest solvent, but under the impression that this bland fluid 
may lubricate the foliaceous parts of the stomach, and operate 
in some measure mechanically : and 1 have frequently observed 
pieces of hardened half-digested food pass with the liquid faeces 
after its administration. 
In order that the stomach may be less called into action, the 
regimen consists of a very small quantity of hay, with plenty of 
gruel, made either of wheat, or bean flower, or linseed ; and some¬ 
times with mutton suet boiled in skim milk, and thickened with 
wheat flour or starch. 
If this treatment should not restrain the purging, some ano¬ 
dyne astringent medicines with aromatics and absorbents are 
given ; and, as a last resource, the animal is compelled to drink 
lime-water, which has occasionally succeeded. 
This treatment has restored health to some of my patients 
when the cases were apparently hopeless; and I believe that I 
may conscientiously say that they have become as useful, both 
as regards their milk or flesh, as they would have been had they 
not been attacked with disease. In those cases in which the 
liver does not properly perform its functions, I have frequently 
given alterative doses of calomel combined with opium and aro¬ 
matics ; and the compound powders of either kino or cinnamon, 
cascarilla and cinchona, arrest the alvine discharge, and restore 
the animal to a state of considerable usefulness, as regards its 
preparation for the butcher, and in several cases a cure has been 
effected. 
I have met with cases of diarrhoea in which the attack was 
sudden and violent, and from the expression of abdominal pain 
