Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

170 CATTLE.
and it often causes a great deal of inflammation and swelling. The
back and the loins may be covered with sheepskins, frequently changed,
to excite constant perspiration, and produce relaxation in the part
principally attacked : but the chief dependence should be on the
copious bleeding at first ; a recurrence to it if the spasm becomes
more violent, or fever appears ; and the joint influence of the sedatives
and purging.
If the disease terminates successfully, the beast will be sadly out
of condition^ and will not thrive very rapidly. He must be got into
fair plight, as quickly as prudence will allow ;
and then slaughtered
for he will rarely stand work afterwards, or carry much flesh.
Strong Physic Drink for Locked Jaw.—Take Barbadoes aloes,
one ounce and a half; the kernel of the Croton nut, powdered, ten
grains. Dissolve them in as small a quantity as possible of boiling
water, and give when sufficiently cool.
Generally the jaw will be now sufficiently relaxed to permit the
introduction of the thin neck of a claret bottle into the mouth. The
best method, however, of giving medicine in this case is by the assistance
of Read's patent pump, the pipe of which, let the jaws be
fixed as firmly as they may, can generally be introduced, close to and
immediately before the grinders.
Anodyne Brink for Locked Jaw.—Take camphor, one drachm, rub
it down in an ounce of spirits of wine ; to this add powdered opium,
one drachm, and give the mixture in a small quantity of thick gruel.
This medicine should be administered three or four times every
day ; care *being taken that the bowels are kept open, either by
means of aloes or Epsom salts.
The bleeding should be repeated on the second day, if the animal
be not evidently relieved ; and as much blood should be again taken
as the patient can bear to lose.
The stable or cow-house should be warm, and the animal covered
with two or three thick rugs. If considerable perspiration can be
excited, the beast is almost sure to experience some relief.
It will be almost labor in vain to endeavor to stimulate the skin,
or to raise a blister. Two, three, or four setons in the dewlap have
been useful ; and benefit has been derived from shaving the baek
along the whole course of the skin, and cauterizing it severely with the
common firing-iron. If it should be found impracticable to administer
either food or medicine by the mouth, they must be given in the
form of clysters. Double the usual quantity of the medicine must
be given, on account of the probable loss of a portion of it, and the
small quantity that the absorbents of the intestines may take up ; but
too much gruel must not be injected, otherwise it will probably be
returned. A quart generally will be as much as will be retained, and
the clyster may be repeated five or six times in the course of the day.
Should the progress of the disease have been rapid, and the symp-
;