202 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 
In diarrhoea arising from debility, it is so seldom that any 
direct attempt will be made to stay the affection, so long as 
the evacuation is not excessive. Tonic medicines and proper 
dietetics, suited to the condition of the animal, will suffice to 
effect all that is necessary under ordinary circumstances; 
but a profuse and frequent evacuation, in the case of a de¬ 
bilitated subject, it must be remembered, is almost certain to 
terminate fatally; to arrest it, therefore, by the use of alkalies 
and astringents, is the surgeoffs duty. The difficulty seems 
to be that the patient will not meet with proper consideration, 
from the apparent simplicity of the malady and the ordinary 
absence of pain or derangement for some time, even until a 
fatal prostration is established. Among the astringents that 
may be used with success we have reason to speak in favour 
of tannin, alum, and catechu. Either of these given in com¬ 
bination with chalk and opium, in the form of powder, ball, 
or draught, by the addition of linseed tea, will constitute a 
sufficiently potent remedy, and, by judicious arrangement of 
the dose, may be continued for some time with safety. 
Diarrhoea resulting from irritability of the mucous mem¬ 
brane will seldom require the aid of astringents at all; chalk 
and opium are very useful medicaments ; aconite may be 
administered. Should pain occur, counter-irritation to the 
spine or abdomen may be advisable, when the disease is very 
obstinate ; and, under all circumstances, a bland diet and 
entire abstinence from bran, beans, and green food, during 
medical treatment. Should the diarrhoea be distinctly traced 
to the consumption of any irritating article of food an 
oleaginous purgative may properly be given at the com¬ 
mencement of the treatment, presuming no objection to exist 
otherwise to the exhibition of cathartics" 
The more obstinate forms of chronic diarrhoea associated 
with organic disease of the mucous membrane, and probably 
of the glands of the intestines, are scarcely to be diagnosed 
with certainty, and hence their treatment is, by necessity, in 
a great degree, empirical. So long as the appetite remains, 
various remedies, as tonics, antacids, astringents, and altera¬ 
tives, may be exhibited with a reasonable prospect of success ; 
but when the animal refuses food the tone of the system 
continuously diminishes, and, in sj)ite of remedial measures, 
an unfavorable termination is certain. 
When derangement of the liver constitutes one element 
of the disease we have found the extract of taraxacum to be 
exceedingly valuable, in particular for the treatment of cattle 
and sheep; for the former we have usually prescribed half¬ 
ounce doses, in combination with two drachms of carbonate 
