ON Hi^iMATURIA IN CATTLE. 
245 
are exempt, and why so? because they have, at all times and 
seasons, a plentiful supply of that refreshing element. I have 
known haematuria make its appearance as an epidemic upon farms 
where it had hitherto remained unknown, except by name, and 
which could be traced to no other apparent cause than an excess 
of draining, by which process the natural and artificial grasses 
became altered in quality and quantity, and would necessarily 
predispose to disease—in fewer words, whatever tends to derange 
the digestive powers must likewise involve the whole body. 
It may be said, that indigestion may and does occur at all 
seasons without one solitary instance of haematuria. That this is 
the case is beyond doubt; but I shall content myself with briefly 
replying, that haematuria selects a portion of the year when the sun 
is attaining or has attained its greatest power, and that all animals 
labouring under visceral derangement, being continually exposed 
to its scorching rays, with not a tree or shrub to protect them from 
the intolerance of its heat, and without one drop of water to cool 
their parched tongues, these combined will naturally predispose to 
attacks of a particular kind, and these generally terminate in 
haematuria. That indigestion is the primary cause, is evident 
from the w:ell-known fact of diarrhoea always preceding the dis¬ 
colouration of urine; and that water, even in a limited quantity, will 
tend to disturb the digestive powers, as well as alter the secre¬ 
tion of urine both in quantity and quality, must, I think, be evident 
to all, and clearly shews that all our means must be exerted, and 
strenuously too, against the stomachs and intestines. This, at 
least, has always been my object, and where I have been sucess- 
ful enough to clear the stomachs from their indigestible mass, I 
have invariably found every untoward symptom vanish. To 
accomplish this end, the raagnes. sulph. in ^iv doses, given in 
any convenient vehicle every two hours until the intestines are 
briskly acted upon, with a plentiful use of whey porridge, and 
keeping the animal in a loose cow-house, will have a more bene¬ 
ficial effect than all the astringents so much praised by cattle 
doctors, whose only aim is to ‘‘ turn the water,” and which they 
attempt to accomplish by their free, and I will venture to say 
injudicious, administration of these drugs, leaving to nature alone 
the disgorgement of the stomachs. I must not omit to state, 
that I generally find it necessary to administer the magnes. sulph. 
in ^iv or ^vi doses as an alterative for a few days afterwards, to 
which, if there exists any debility, I add pulv. colomb. 3 li, pulv. 
zingib. 5i, with some of the aromatic seeds. 
I cannot conclude without stating, that the disease called felon, 
or cold, is most decidedly indigestion; for I gradually succeed, 
in most cases, by the exhibition of alterative doses of the muriate 
VOL. VI. I i 
