ON CATTLE MEDICINE. 
141 
a better knowledge of which is much wanted by the profession 
dwelling in the country. Having seen in Dr. Monro’s Com¬ 
parative Anatomy , and also in the late Mr. James White’s 
Compendium of Cattle Medicine , that the cow has the power to 
direct its food or medicine into which of the four stomachs it 
pleases, I desire to know how to act when the first or third 
stomach is the seat of disease, and the excrement in a dry state, 
as I have often seen it. 
I was called to a cow on the 28th November last, the symp¬ 
toms of whose disease were as follows:—Blowing short, and 
groaning so loud as to be heard at a considerable distance; 
the horns, ears, and legs cold, with costiveness. 1 sent the fol¬ 
lowing medicine: 
Epsom salts and sulphur. each six ounces 
Powdered croton seed. two scruples 
Powdered ginger. three quarters of an ounce 
Powdered caraways . one ounce: 
the whole to be given in three pints of gruel, with four ounces of 
treacle. This purged her in about ten hours; but the owner 
fearing her death, killed her. I opened her soon afterwards; and, 
seemingly, the medicine had not entered either the first, second, 
or third stomach, as the meat in them was of a green colour, 
and rather soft; but the contents of the fourth was the same 
colour as the medicine, and very thin ; therefore, I hope you will 
have the goodness to write to me, and give me your opinion 
respecting the cow’s power of directing its food or medicine into 
which of the stomachs it pleases; and what should be done in 
case the cow does not direct its medicine into the stomach 
which is the seat of disease. 
I shall feel the greatest pleasure in stating to you my treat¬ 
ment of any disease to which the cow is subject. The following 
I give in “ milk fever,” after a free bleeding :— 
Epsom salts. one pound 
Powdered croton seed. one drachm 
Ginger . three quarters of an ounce 
Pulv. caraway . one ounce 
Mustard powder. two ounces : 
in three pints of gruel, with one-third of the following mixture : 
Oil of turpentine. four ounces 
Lime water. three ounces 
Olive oil. one ounce : 
the half of the remainder to be given in two hours afterwards, 
and the rest at the expiration of four hours more, in a quart 
