Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

RED-WATER. 369
flammation of the kidney, enlargement of it, turgescence of its vessels,
yet very rarely any considerable disorganization,- and certainly not
so much affection of it as would be expected ; but in cows the uterus
exhibits much greater inflammation ; there is often ulceration, the
formation of fetid pus, and occasionally gangrene ; there is also
peritoneal inflammation, extensive, intense, with adhesions and effu-
sions, while the lining membrane of the bowels rarely escapes inflammation
and ulceration.
There can be little doubt about the treatment of such a disease.
There- has either been an undue quantity of blood determined to the
kidneys, with much local inflammation, and before the pressure of
which the vessels of that organ have given way, or so much blood
has been always traversing the kidney, that there is a facility in set-
ting up imflammation there. Bleeding will be the first step indica-
ted. The first bleeding should be a copious one ; but the repetition
of it will depend upon circumstances. The haemorrhage, or bleeding,
is clearly active. It is produced by some irritation of the part
its color shows that it proceeds from the minute arterial or capillary
vessels. When Moody urine flows from the kidney, that organ is
giving way under an increased discharge of its natural function, and
that function is increased in order to compensate for the suspended
one of another part, namely, the natural action of the bowels. Three
objects will be accomplished by venesection : the first, a diminution
of the general quantity of blood ; the second—a consequence of the
first—the removal of congestion in the part ; and the third is the
giving a different direction to the current of blood.
Purgatives should follow, with a view more quickly and effectually
to accomplish all these objects ; and from the recollection of a circumstance
most important to the practitioner, that red-water closely
followed the establishment of constipation. A pound of Epsom salts
should be immediately exhibited, and half-pound doses every eight
hours afterwards, until the bowels are thoroughly acted upon.
There is too frequently great difficulty in purging cattle when
laboring under red-water : dose after dose may be administered for
three or four days, and yet the bowels wilL remain obstinately constipated.
Either there is a strange indisposition in them to be acted
upon, or, the rumen sympathizing with the derangement of other
organs, the muscular pillars of its roof yield to the weight of the fluid,
whether hastily or cautiously administered, and the medicine enters
that stomach, and is retained there until the beast is lost. The
physic must be repeated again and again ; it must gently trickle
down the gullet, so that it ahall fall on the roof of the paunch with
as little force as possible ; and after the second day, in spite of the
fever, unusual doses of aromatics must mingle with it, that the rumen,
or the intestines, or both, may be stimulated to action. In the ma-
jority of cases, and especially before the strength of the animal 'be-
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