DISEASES OF THE MUCOUS SURFACE.

The mucous membrane is a duplicature of the skin, and is folded into the external orifices of the animal, as the mouth, ears, nose, lungs, stomach, intestines, and bladder; but not being so much exposed to the action of external agents, it is not so strong or thick as the skin. It performs, however, nearly the same office as the skin. If the action of one is suppressed, the other immediately commences the performance of its office. Thus a common cold, which collapses the skin, immediately stops insensible perspiration, which recedes to the mucous membrane, producing a discharge from the nose, eyes, bowels, &c. So, when great derangement of the mucous membrane exists, debilitating perspiration succeeds. In the treatment of diseases of the mucous membrane, we endeavor to remove the irritating causes from the organs affected, restore the general tone of the system, and invite action to the external surface.

CATARRH, OR HOOSE.

This disease often arises from exposure to wet or cold weather, and from the food being of a bad quality, or deficient in quantity. If the animal is enfeebled by poor feed, old age, or any other cause, then there is very little resistance offered against the encroachments of disease: hence young beasts and cows after calving are often the victims.

Treatment.—It is necessary to attend to this disorder as soon as it makes its appearance; for a common cold, neglected, often lays the foundation of consumption. On the other hand, a little attention in the early stages, and before sympathetic action sets in, would set all right. The first indication to be fulfilled is to invite action to the surface by friction and counter-irritants. The following liniment may be applied to the feet and throat:—

Olive oil,4 ounces.
Oil of cedar,1 ounce.
Liquid ammonia,half an ounce.

Rub the mixture in well; then give

Gruel,1 quart.
Powdered licorice,1 ounce.
Composition,half a tea-spoonful.

Give this at a dose, and repeat two or three times during the twenty-four hours. A drink of any warm aromatic tea, such as pennyroyal, hyssop, catnip or aniseed will have a good effect. The diet should consist of scalded meal, boiled carrots, flaxseed, or any substance that is light and easy of digestion. Should the discharge increase and the eyelids swell, recourse must be had to vapor, which may be raised by pouring vinegar on a hot brick; the latter held, with a pair of tongs, beneath the animal's nose, at the same time covering the head with a blanket. A small quantity of bayberry bark may occasionally be blown up the nostrils from a quill. It is very important, during the treatment, that the animal be in a warm situation, with a good bed of straw to rest on. If the glands under the jaw enlarge, the following mixture should be rubbed about the throat:—

Neat's foot oil,4 ounces.
Hot drops,2 ounces.
Vinegar,1 gill.

If the disease assumes a chronic form, and the animal is evidently losing flesh, then give the following:—

Golden seal, powdered,1 table-spoonful.
Caraway seeds, powdered,1 table-spoonful.

Divide into three parts; which may be given daily, (in thin gruel,) until the animal is convalescent.

EPIDEMIC CATARRH.

This often prevails at particular seasons, and spreads over whole districts, sometimes destroying a great number of cattle. It is a disorder whose intensity varies considerably, being sometimes attended with a high grade of fever, at other times quickly followed by general debility.

Treatment.—This requires the same treatment as the last-named disease, but only more thoroughly and perseveringly applied; for every portion of the system seems to be affected, either through sympathetic action or from the absorption of morbid matter. Hence we must aid the vital power to maintain her empire and resist the encroachments on her sanative operations by the use of antiseptics and stimulants. The following is a good example:—

Powdered charcoal,1 ounce.
Powdered bayberry bark,half an ounce.
Powdered pleurisy root,1 ounce.
Honey,1 table-spoonful.
Thin gruel,1 quart.

MALIGNANT EPIDEMIC, (Murrain.)

This disease has been more or less destructive from the time of Pharaoh up to the present period. For information on the origin, progress, and termination of this malignant distemper, the reader is referred to Mr. Youatt's work on cattle.

Treatment.—The indications to be fulfilled are, first, to preserve the system from putrescence, which can be done by the use of the following drink:—

Powdered capsicum,1 tea-spoonful.
Powdered charcoal,2 ounces.
Limewater,4 ounces.
Sulphur,1 tea-spoonful.

Add to the capsicum, charcoal, and sulphur, a small quantity of gruel; lastly, add the lime water. A second and similar dose may be given six hours after the first, provided, however, the symptoms are not so alarming.

The next indication is, to break down the morbid action of the nervous and vascular systems; for which the following may be given freely:—

Thoroughwort tea,2 quarts.
Powdered assafœtida,2 drachms.

Aid the action of these remedies by the use of one of the following injections:—

Powdered lobelia,2 ounces.
Oil of peppermint,2 quarts.

Another.

Infusion of camomile,2 quarts.
Common salt,4 ounces.

In all cases of putrid or malignant fever, efforts should be made to supply the system with caloric, (by the aid of stimulants,) promote the secretions, and rid the system of morbific materials.

DIARRHŒA, (Looseness of the Bowels.)

In the early stages of this disease, it is not always to be checked. It is often a salutary operation of nature to rid the system of morbific materials, and all that we can do with safety is, to sheathe and lubricate the mucous surfaces, in order to protect them from the acrid and stimulating properties of the agents to be removed from the alimentary canal.

When the disease, of which diarrhœa is only a symptom, proceeds from exposure, apply warmth, moisture, friction, and stimulants to the external surface, aided by the following lubricant:—

Powdered slippery elm,1 ounce.
Powdered charcoal,1 table-spoonful.
Boiling water,2 quarts.

Common starch, or flour, may be substituted for slippery elm. The mixture should be given in pint doses, at intervals of two hours. When the fecal discharges appear more natural and less frequent, a tea of raspberry leaves or bayberry bark will complete the cure.

When the disease assumes a chronic form, and the animal loses flesh, the following tonic, stimulating, astringent drink is recommended:—

Infusion of camomile,1 quart.
Powdered caraway seeds,1 ounce.
Bayberry, powdered,half an ounce.

Mix for one dose.

Remarks.—In the treatment of this disease, it is necessary for the farmer to know, that through the instrumentality of the nervous structure, there is constantly a sympathy kept up between the different parts of the animal; whenever any part is affected, the corresponding part feels the influence. Thus the external surface is opposed to the internal, so that, if the function of the former be diminished, or excessive, or suspended, that of the latter will soon become deranged; and the restoration of the lost function is the only true way to effect a cure. For example, if an animal be suffered to feed in wet lands, the feet and external surface become cold; and hence diarrhœa, catarrh, garget, dysentery, &c. If the circulation of the blood is obstructed by exposure, we should restore the lost function by rubbing the surface, and by the application of warmth and moisture. If the animal is in poor condition, and there is not enough vitality to equalize the circulation, give warm anti-spasmodics. (See Appendix.) In cases where diarrhœa results from a want of power in the digestive organs to assimilate the food, the latter acts on the mucous surfaces as a mechanical irritant, producing inflammation, &c. Inflammation is the concentration of the available vital force too much upon a small region of the body, and it is invited there by irritation. Now, instead of the popular error,—bleeding and purging,—the most rational way to proceed is, to remove the cause of irritation, (no matter whether the stomach or bowels are involved,) and invite the blood to the surface by means already alluded to, and distribute it over the general system, so that it will not be in excess any where. There is generally but little difficulty in producing an equilibrium of action; the great point is to sustain it. When the blood accumulates in a part, as in inflammation of the bowels, the sensibility of the part is so highly exalted that the least irritation causes a relapse; therefore the general treatment must not be abandoned too early.

DYSENTERY.

The disease is generally ushered in with some degree of fever; as, trembling, hot and cold stages, dryness of the mouth, loss of appetite, general prostration, drooping of the head and ears, heaving of the flanks; there are frequent stools, yet these seldom consist of natural excrement, but are of a viscid, mucous character; the animal is evidently in pain during these discharges, and sometimes the fundament appears excoriated.

Causes.—The cause of this complaint appears to be, generally, exposure. Dr. White says, "Almost all the diseases of cattle arise either from exposure to wet or cold weather, from their food being of a bad quality, or deficient in quantity, or from the animal being changed too suddenly from poor, unwholesome keep to rich pasture. It is necessary to observe, also, that the animal is more liable to be injured by exposure to wet and cold, when previously enfeebled by bad keep, old age, or any other cause; and particularly when brought from a mild into a cold situation. I have scarcely met with a disease that is not attributable to a chill."

Treatment.—This must be much the same as in diarrhœa—sheathing the mucous membrane, and inviting action to the surface. The animal must be warmly housed, well littered, and the extremities clothed with flannel bandages. The diet must consist of flour gruel, scalded meal. Raspberry tea will be the most suitable drink. Much can be done by good nursing. Mr. Ellman says, "If any of my cattle get into a low, weak state, I generally recommend nursing, which, in most cases, is much better than a doctor; [meaning some of the poor specimens always to be found in large cities;] having often seen the beast much weakened, and the stomach relaxed, by throwing in a quantity of medicine injudiciously, and the animal lost; when, with good nursing, in all probability, it might have been otherwise."

SCOURING ROT.

Cause.—Any thing that can reduce the vital energies.

Symptoms.—A gradual loss of flesh, although the animal often feeds well and ruminates. The excrements are of a dark color, frothy, and fetid, and, in the latter stages, appear to be only half digested. There are many symptoms and different degrees of intensity, during the progress of this disease, indicate the amount of destruction going on; yet the author considers them unimportant in a practical point of view, at least as far as the treatment is concerned; for the disease is so analogous to dysentery, that the same indications are to be fulfilled in both; more care, however, should be taken to prevent and subdue mortification.

In addition to the treatment recommended in article Malignant Epidemic, the following injection may be substituted for the one prescribed under that head:—

Powdered charcoal,a tea-cupful.
Common salt,2 ounces.
Pyroligneous acid[11],half a wine-glass.
Warm water,2 quarts.

Throw one quart of the above into the rectum, and the remainder six hours after the first.

FOOTNOTES:

[11] Vinegar obtained from wood.