Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

178 CATTLE.
madness suddenly changes into that of a ferocious character. There
is no cure now ; and the animal should he destroyed. One circumstance
also should be remembered. The poison in rabid animals
seems to be in the saliva ; and the saliva of an ox is as dangerous
as that of a dog.
The rabid ox may attempt more mischief with its horns than its
teeth, but occasionally will bite ; or, if not, yet must not be meddled
with too much. This dangerous foam is continually running from
the mouth ; it may fall on a sore place, and it is then as dangerous
as a bite.
The knowledge that the virus is confined to the saliva will settle
another matter. A cow may be observed to be ailing for a day or
two, but has been milked as usual ; her milk has been mingled with
the rest, and has been used. She is discovered to be rabid. . Can
the milk of a .rabid cow be drunk with impunity ? Yes, for the
poison is confined to the saliva. Miscreants have sent the flesh of
rabid cattle to market, and it has been eaten without harm.
Jlomoeop&thic treatment.—A dose of belladonna is to be administered
first ; the bite is to be well washed, and fomented with water,
to which some drops of extract of belladonna have been added.
The doses of belladonna are to be repeated, first every day, then at
longer intervals. When a mad dog has found his way into a herd,
it is a good precaution to make all the beasts take a dose of belladonna
daily, for eight or even twelve days.