ON REDWATER IN CATTLE. 
328 
to all domesticated animals. In the foremost rank of these, in 
point of public wealth and utility, stand horned cattle; than 
whom, when labouring under disease, no class of animals have 
been so grossly neglected, and their sufferings so much increased, 
as well from the cupidity and bigotted prejudices of their owners, 
and the ignorant, self-taught, and self-elected cow doctor. 
In The Veterinarian for May, 1833, I hazarded an 
opinion as to indigestion being the cause of redwater, and the 
digestive apparatus its probable seat. I did it then, as I now do, 
under the heartfelt wish of eliciting inquiry, but not controversy, 
in order to arrive at the truth; for, at that time, not having what 
I conceived to be any undeniably solid foundation, and from the 
absence of many facts which I now possess, I w'as deterred from 
persisting in the defence of that theory, determining, however, 
at some future period, to return to the subject. 
That redwater was not primarily an affection of the kidneys, 
I had long suspected; and I had observed either the non-effect 
or the mischievous effect of the diuretics and astringents gene¬ 
rally resorted to and used by cattle doctors. This observation 
gradually led me to look to other and more important organs for 
an elucidation of the matter ; and the digestive organs, as par¬ 
taking of a greater and peculiar complexity of character, pre¬ 
sented themselves to my mind; and in connexion with them the 
disease, throughout its various stages, was narrowly watched : it 
soon became sufficiently evident, that to them alone the disease 
is entirely referrible. 
Diarrhoea, I do not hesitate to say, is invariably the premoni¬ 
tory symptom. lYeither before nor during its continuance is 
the urinary discharge altered; and the administration of a mild 
purgative during this stage will, in the generality of cases, pre¬ 
vent all unpleasant consequences. From this fact alone, if 
others were wanting, w^e might justly conclude that the digestive 
organs were disordered, and look upon the diarrhoea as one of 
Nature’s resources and curative indications. It is, however, too 
frequently the case, that the diarrhoea is not seen, or if seen is 
disregarded, and this favourable opportunity is allowed to escape ; 
and then constipation, so universally known and as universally 
feared, ensues: the urine becomes tinged, and, as the constipa¬ 
tion becomes more confirmed, gradually acquires a darker hue— 
nay, I have even seen the milk itself partake in the discoloura¬ 
tion, when the stimulus of medicine has failed in alleviating the 
obstinacy of the bowels. 
On these grounds I infer, that from an undue and vitiated 
secretion of bile redwater is produced, and that purgation, at 
the onset, is consequent on this vitiated secretion. That the 
