316 
REPLIES TO QUERIES. 
I 
and diuretic nature; and, by over-exerting- the excretory ves¬ 
sels of the kidneys, they at length give way, and pass bloocl with 
the urine. From my experience, and inquiries into the subject, I 
am inclined to believe, in some degree, the truth of this asser¬ 
tion ; but I consider this by no means to be the sole cause ; for 
even under these circumstances, if the land lie dry, and in an 
elevated situation, it seldom occurs; but, on the contrary, I 
have remarked, that in valleys and situations placed remarkably 
low, and when the weather is changeable, 1 . e. the day warm 
and the night following frosty, or a heavy dew fall, cattle are 
certain to be attacked w ith it: for in such situations the dew al¬ 
ways falls most copious, and the white or hoar frost is most 
severe. It is probable, however, that the winter’s feeding and 
cold, and the eating of leaves, are the predisposing causes ; that 
they so weaken the vessels of the kidneys, by throwing impuri¬ 
ties upon them, as to render them too susceptible of being acted 
upon by the cold fogs and frosts. For after the perspirable ves¬ 
sels have been relaxed by the warmth of the day, the cold must 
necessarily make a sensible impression, and the blood must re¬ 
cede from the surface to the more internal parts: the ves¬ 
sels of the kidneys, being in a relaxed state, must suffer the 
most. 
The usual treatment of this disease is a purgative of salts in 
combination w ith cordials and diuretics, whether the animal be 
costive or not. If the discharge continues after the purgative 
has operated, astringents and diuretics are given. I have suc¬ 
ceeded best w'hen I have given a purgative of salts and aloes, 
w ith tincture of opium and caraway seeds. If it does not operate 
at the usual time, one half of the salts and aloes w ere repeated 
every six hours. In some cases I have continued the exhibition 
of the medicine until five full doses have been administered 4 
When the animal is in good condition, and the pulse quick and 
strong, I have bled with the very best effect: the blood in these 
cases is very tough and huffy. I have received benefit from the 
use of large plasters of pitch and a little tartarized antimony laid 
across the region of the kidneys. I have seldom any call for 
astringents in this disease. 
Diarrhoea principally attacks young cattle and milch cows, 
and always proves fatal, unless it arises from the change of 
food ; when it soon ceases after a little absorbent and astringent 
medicine. The chronic diarrhoea invariably wears the animal 
down, sooner or later, in spite of all means. I have examined 
many cattle that have died of this disease, and invariably found 
the liver diseased, the gall-bladder full of a thin watery bile, and 
the ducts of the liver full of flukes. I have occasionally found a 
deposition of serum in the cellular membrane, betw een the mus- 
