Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

40? CATTLE.
permit the medicine to come more effectually into contact with the
coats of the stomach. The warm water would also stimulate the
stomach to contract, and thus get rid of a portion of its contents,
either by vomiting or purging. In the first case, there would be
room for the exhibition of more purgative medicine ; in the other,
the effect most of all desired would have been obtained.
The rumen will often annoy thepractitioner in another way in this
complaint : either on account of a vitiated secretion in that stomach,
or from the retention of the food, which, exposed to the united influence
of warmth and moisture, begins to ferment, there will be considerable
extrication of gas, and the animal will swell with even more
rapidity and to a greater extent than in simple hoove. The flanks
should immediately be punctured, or the probang introduced, in
order to permit the carburetted hydrogen to escape. A dose of the
solution of the chloride of lime, as already recommended under
" Hoove," should be given, to prevent the extrication of more gas
and a greater quantity of aromatic and fever medicine should be
added to the purgative, that the stomach may be roused to healthy
action.-
Ere this the practitioner will have thought it necessary to pay
some attention to the comfort of the patient. This part of medical
treatment is too often neglected. She should have been watched
before she actually dropped, and got as soon as possible into the
house, and well and warmly littered up. If she drops in the field, it
will always be difficult to get her home ; and if she- continues out,
and bad weather comes on, she will assuredly be lost. She should
be placed on one side, or, if possible, on her belly, inclining a little to
one side, and, a§ much as can be managed, in her usual position, and
with her fore parts a little elevated, and she should be secured in
that position by trusses of straw. She should be moved or turned
morning and night, in order to prevent soreness and excoriation.
Warm gruel and water should be frequently offered to her, and if
these are obstinately refused, she should be moderately drenched
with thick gruel. Bean and malt mashes may be given with a little
sweet hay : but it must be remembered, that while moderate nourishment
is necessary to recruit her strength and support her through
such a disease, yet the digestive powers have usually shown that
they have shared in the debility of
early or too much taxed.
the frame, and must not be too
Having well opened the bowels and subdued the fever, the future
proceedings must be regulated by the state of the patient. In
general, little more will be necessary than attention to diet and com-
fort. At all events, tonics and stimulants should not be too hastily
given. It should be recollected, that the disease was essentially of
a febrile nature. Experience will convince the praetitioner, that
there long remains a lurking tendency to the renewal of febrile ac-
;