BONE DISORDER IN COWS. 
645 
in excess. If it is clearly proved that the bones of a cow are 
weak, then we should be inclined to prescribe phosphates; if 
they are brittle, we should prescribe gelatinous preparations; 
but not in the form of bone dust: we should use linseed, 
which is known to be rich in phosphates and gelatine. At 
the same time, the general health must be improved. 
It is well known that some cows cannot be fattened, 
although they have an abundance of the best kind of fodder. 
In such cases, we find the digestive organs deranged, which 
disturbs the equilibrium of the whole animal economy. The 
food may then be said to be a direct cause of disease. 
The effects of insufficient food are well known; debility 
includes them all. If there is not sufficient carbon in the 
food, the animal is deprived of the power of reproducing 
itself, and the cure consists in supplying the deficiency. At 
the same time, every condition of nutrition should be con¬ 
sidered ; and if the function of digestion is impaired, we must 
look to those of absorption, circulation, and secretion also, 
for they will be more or less involved. If the appetite is 
impaired, accompanied by a loss of cud, it shows that the 
stomach is overloaded, or that its function is suspended: 
stimulants and tonics are then indicated. A voracious appe¬ 
tite indicates the presence of morbid accumulations in the 
stomach and bowels, and they should be cleansed by aperients; 
after which, a change of diet will generally effect a cure. 
When gas accumulates in the intestines, we have evidence of 
a loss of vital power in the digestive organs; fermentation 
takes place before the food can be digested. 
The cure consists in restoring the lost function. Diarrhoea 
is generally caused by exposure (taking cold), or by eating 
poisons and irritating substances: the cure may be accom¬ 
plished by removing the cold, and cleansing the system of 
the irritants. Costiveness often arises from the absorption of 
the fluids from the solids in their slow progress through the 
intestines; exercise will then be indicated. An occasional 
injection, however, may be given, if necessary. General 
debility, we have said, may arise from insufficient food; to 
which we may add the popular practice of milking the cow 
while pregnant, much of which milk is yielded at the hazard 
of her own health and that of her foetus. Whatever is taken 
away from the cow in the form of milk, ought to be replaced 
by the food. Proper attention, however, must be paid to the 
state of the digestive organs: they must not be overtaxed 
with indigestible substances. With this object in view, we 
recommend a mixed diet; for no animal can subsist on a 
single article of food. Dogs die, although fed on jelly ; they 
VOL. xxv. 4 R 
