886 SCOTTISH METROPOLITAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION. 
themselves), to the loins may be employed with advantage. A 
powerful counter-irritant, as the croton liniment, should at the 
same time be well rubbed into the back of the poll, the roots of 
the ears, and over the larynx and pharynx. The benefit of this 
is the stimulating effect upon the commencement of the nerves 
which issue from the cranium, and upon the superior cervical 
plexus of the sympathetic, independent of its diverting somewhat 
the course of the blood in the arteries passing to the brain and its 
meninges and the medulla oblongata. All hardened fseces and 
retained urine should be removed, and turpentine enemas thrown 
up; not that I have any faith in enemas in cattle, but they may 
act indirectly as a stimulant, in exciting the peristaltic action of 
the bowels. The legs if cold should be w r ell rubbed with common 
whiskey to restore the free circulation of blood in them, thus 
not only relieving pressure on the nervous centres, but preventing 
congestion and its sequelse, exudations, suppuration, paralysis, 
and sloughing. If the body is cold it should be moderately 
clothed; the habit of some practitioners of covering up the 
body with sheets and straw until great perspiration is induced 
must, to say the least of it, be very injurious in an animal whose 
.nervous system is already reduced, and in my opinion it is much 
to be condemned; by all means try to produce healthy circula¬ 
tion in the skin, and even a moderate degree of diaphoresis, but 
beware of adding to a load which is altogether more than the 
animal-can bear. Tat animals, especially, like fat people, cannot 
well stand Turkish baths, and I have frequently seen patients 
that have been made to perspire too freely fall into a state of col¬ 
lapse and die, whilst previously to this untoward meddling they 
had evinced signs of returning consciousness. More than this, the 
skin cannot perform its healthy functions if it is so treated, and 
the reaction is always dangerous. Tor this reason we should 
never check undue perspiration too quickly, but remove the 
covering by degrees, thoroughly drying each successively exposed 
part with hay or cloths, and then enveloping it in a dry warm 
rug, and if it is the back applying a stimulant after the drying 
process. In addition to the above the patient should be fre¬ 
quently turned, so as to prevent stagnation and congestion of 
blood in important organs, and to dispel flatulence; the udder at¬ 
tended to, and the body kept resting on the sternum with sacks 
of straw, &c. If convulsions are strong it becomes a serious 
question whether we should not have recourse to the operation of 
tracheotomy, as they are always accompanied with closure of the 
glottis, and free respiration is one of the first things necessary to 
be maintained. 
Third stage .—When coma is established our treatment is 
entirely to be altered. Bleeding is useless, as it will be difficult 
