EFFECTS OF COTTON CAKE ON A’OUNG STOCK. 
673 
The ti’eatme*nt adopted for the relief of the animal affected 
consisted at first of a mild aperient, followed by antacids, 
carminatives, and tonics. I gave but little hope of a suc¬ 
cessful termination of the case, but nevertheless I ordered 
gruel to be given him during the day, with some ale. Crushed 
oats and green food were also prescribed as articles of diet. 
The treatment was apparently attended with benefit for four 
or five days, but the animal died during the night of the 
twelfth. 
I was enabled to examine this second case also after death, * 
and the result was to my mind very confirmatory of the con¬ 
clusion I had come to on my former investigation. The 
appearances did not much differ, with the exception of the 
liver, which organ was twice its natural size, and of rather 
a lighter colour. 
Prophylactics .—I need scarcely state that the cotton cake 
was discontinued with the remainder of the herd, and linseed 
cake given in small quantities, with crushed oats, over which 
some SocVii CJiloridum was sprinkled. The animals were also 
turned into the meadow to graze during the day. I likewise 
gave to each calf antacids and carminatives, and followed 
them up by vegetable and mineral tonics, with, I may say, 
the happiest result. I have since made frequent inquiries, 
and learnt that they are now all doing well. I have given a 
somewhat lengthy and, perhaps, to some, a tedious description 
of these cases, but I have thought them full of interest to the 
veterinary surgeon, as well as to farmers and breeders of 
stock, for at all times prevention is more praiseworthy than 
cure. 
It is right that I should add that the owner was feeding 
some older stock—yearlings—on cake of the same quality, 
and apparently with great benefit. From this circumstance 
it would appear that the age of animals intended to consume 
cotton cake must be taken into consideration, as well as the 
quality of the cake. The question arises how these morbid 
changes were brought about by the cake. Whether from 
any poisonous matter it contains, or from the hard, indi¬ 
gestible husk of the cotton seed, acting as an irritant to the 
mucous membranes of the alimentary track; or are the nutri¬ 
tive properties not capable of being assimilated by animals so 
young? The older animals doing well on it, would tend to 
disprove the assumption of its containing any poisonous 
material. The precise manner by which this was effected 
I am at a loss to account for, although I am fully convinced 
of the fact. 
