The American Reformed Cattle Doctor Part 34

This disease is somewhat a.n.a.logous to scarlet fever. It makes its appearance in the form of red pustules on the back and belly, which gradually extend to the whole body. The external remedy is:--

Powdered bloodroot, half an ounce.

Boiling vinegar, 1 pint.

When cool, it should be rubbed on the external surface.

The diet should consist of boiled vegetables, coa.r.s.e meal, &c., with a small dose of sulphur every night.

DROPSY.

_Symptoms._--The animal is sad and depressed, the appet.i.te fails, respiration is performed with difficulty, and the belly swells.

_Treatment._--Keep the animal on a light, nutritive diet, and give a handful of juniper berries, or cedar buds, daily. If these fail, give a table-spoonful of fir balsam daily.

CATARRH.

_Symptoms._--Occasional fits of coughing, accompanied with a mucous discharge from the nose and mouth.

_Causes._--Exposure to cold and damp weather.

_Treatment._--Give a liberal allowance of gruel made with powdered elm or marshmallows, and give a tea-spoonful of balsam copaiba, or fir balsam, every night. The animal must be kept comfortably warm.

COLIC.

Spasmodic and flatulent colic requires antispasmodics and carminatives, in the following form:--

Powdered caraway seeds, 1 tea-spoonful.

" a.s.safoetida, one third of a tea-spoonful.

To be given at a dose in warm water, and repeated at the expiration of an hour, provided relief is not obtained.

DIARRHOEA.

For the treatment of this malady, see division SHEEP, article _Scours_.

FRENZY.

This makes its appearance suddenly. The animal, having remained in a pa.s.sive and stupid state, suddenly appears much disturbed, to such a degree that it makes irregular movements, strikes its head against every thing it meets, sc.r.a.pes with its feet, places itself quite erect alongside of the sty, bites any thing in its way, and frequently whirls itself round, after which it suddenly becomes more tranquil.

_Treatment._--Give half an ounce of Roch.e.l.le salts, in a pint of thoroughwort tea. If the bowels are not moved in the course of twelve hours, repeat the dose. A light diet for a few days will generally complete the cure.

JAUNDICE.

This disease is recognised by the yellow tint of the _conjunctiva_, (white of the eye,) loss of appet.i.te, &c.

The remedy is,--

Powdered golden seal, half an ounce.

" sulphur, one fourth of an ounce.

" blue flag, half an ounce.

Flaxseed, 1 pound.

Mix, and divide into four parts, and give one every night. The food must be boiled, and a small quant.i.ty of salt added to it.

SORENESS OF THE FEET.

This often occurs to pigs that have travelled any distance: the feet often become tender and sore. In such cases, they should be examined, and all extraneous matter removed from the foot. Then wash with weak lie. If the feet discharge fetid matter, wash with the following mixture:--

Pyroligneous acid, 2 ounces.

Water, 4 ounces.

In the treatment of diseased swine, the "issues," as they are called, ought to be examined, and be kept free. They may be found on the inside of the legs, just above the pastern joint. They seem to serve as a drain or outlet for the morbid fluids of the body, and whenever they are obstructed, local or general disturbance is sure to supervene.

SPAYING.