Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

338 CATTLE.
DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY.
The distinction between these two diseases, and it is of essential
importance to observe it in the treatment of cattle, is, that diarrhoea
consists in the evacuation of faecal matter, in an undue quantity, and
more than naturally liquid form. In dysentery, more or less mucus,
or mucus and blood combined, mingles with faeces.
The frequent and abundant evacuation of faecal matter, whether
with or without mucus, may be considered either as simple, or connected
with other diseases. In its former state it will be the sub-
ject of present consideration, and may b9 regarded as acute or
chronic. Acute diarrhoea may be produced by various causes ;—the
abuse of purgatives, by their being administered in too active a form
—feeding on certain poisonous plants—sudden change of food, generally
from dry to green aliment, but occasionally from green to dry
—excess of food—the drinking of bad water—or by some humid and
unhealthy state of the atmosphere. From the last cause it usually
assumes an epizootic character, particularly in autumn. A great
many cows in a certain district are suddenly attacked by it, although
there is no reason to suspect that it is in the slightest degree conta-
gious.
Calves and milch cows are far more subject to this species of intestinal
inflammation than are full grown or working oxen.
The proper treatment of acute diarrhoea will consist in the administration
of a mild purgative, in order to carry off any source of
irritation in the intestinal canal ; the abstraction of blood, if there
be any degree of fever, and in proportion to that fever ; and then the
exhibition of alkalies and astringents. The most, effectual medicines
are prepared chalk, opium, catechu, and ginger, in the proportions
of one ounce of the first, one drachm of the second, four drachms
of the third, and two of the last, in each dose, and to be adminis-
tered in thick gruel.
This will generally be successful : but, occasionally, these acute
cases of diarrhoea are obstinate and fatal ; and too often it happens
that what has been represented to the practitioner as a sudden
attack turns out to be the winding up of .some chronic disease, and
he does not discover the mistake until it is too late.
Diarrhoea is not always to be considered as a disease. It is often
a salutary effort of nature to get rid of that which would be inju-
rious ; or it is a somewhat too great action of certain of th» digestive
organs, which soon quiet down again to their natural and
healthy function. An occasional lax state of the bowels in calves is
known to be favorable to the acquirement of fat ; and a beast that
is well purged on being first turned on spring-grass or turnips,
thrives far more rapidly than another that is little, or not at all,
affected by the change. Diarrhoea, in*some critical stages of disease,