Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

224 CATTLE.
If inflammation be the consequence of increased action of the
capillaries, the object to be effected is to reduce that inordinate
action to the healthy standard, before the part has become debilitated
or destroyed by this overwork. Bleeding is one of the most
effectual measures, and especially local bleeding. The increased
action of the vessels, and the consequent redness, heat and swelling
of the part, are at once the consequence of inflammatory action, and
tend to prolong and to increase it. A copious bleeding, therefore, by
relieving the overloaded vessels, and enabling them once more to
contract on their contents, is indicated. To this physic will follow,
and there is scarcely an inflammatory disease in the ox in which it
can, by possibility, be injurious. Mashes and cooling diet will be
essential.
As to external applications, they will be best treated of when the
different species, of inflammation are discussed ;
but, as a general rule,
in superficial inflammation, and in the early stage of the disease, cold
lotions will be the most useful ; in cases of deeper-seated injury, and
of considerable standing, warm fomentations will be preferable. The
first will best succeed in abstracting the inflammatory heat ; the
other will relax the fibres of the neighboring parts, which press upon,
and^ perpetuate, the injury, and will also restore the suspended perspiration.
Cases, however, continually occur in which the most
opposite treatment is required in different stages of inflammation.
We have described fever as general capillary action, and with or
without any local affection ; or it is the consequence of the sympathy
of the system with inflammation of some particular part. The first is
called pure or idiopathic fever ; the other symptomatic fever.
Pure fever is frequent in cattle. A beast, yesterday in good health,
is observed to-day—dull, the muzzle dry, rumination and grazing
having quite ceased, or being carelessly or lazily performed, the flanks
heave a little, the root of the horn is unnaturally hot, the pulse is
quickened, and is somewhat hard. The animal is evidently not well,
but the owner cannot discover any local affection or disease ; he gives
a dose of physic ; perhaps he bleeds ; he places a mash before his
patient, and, on the following day, the beast is considerably better,
or well ; or possibly, the animal, although apparently better in the
morning, becomes worse as the day advances, and at about the hour,
or a little later, when he was seen on the preceding day. This is but.
a slight attack of fever, without local affection, or intermittent fever,
still without local determination, and which goes on for three or four
days, returning, or being aggravated at a particular hour, until by
means of cordial purgatives the chain is broken.
At other times, the fever remains without thes6 imtermissions.