SHOWING THAT VERY LITTLE IS KNOWN OF THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF
DISEASE.
Mr. Percival details a case of peritonitis,[5] after the usual symptoms
in the early stage had subsided. "The horse's bowels became much
relaxed: suspecting that there was some disorder in the alimentary
canal, and that this was an effort of nature to get rid of it, I
promoted the diarrhoea by giving mild doses of cathartic medicine, in
combination with calomel!" [Nature did not require such assistance: warm
drinks, composed of marshmallows, or slippery elm, would have been just
the thing.]
"On the third day from this, prolapsus ani (falling of the fundament)
made its appearance. After the return of the gut, the animal grew daily
duller, and more dejected, manifesting evident signs of considerable
inward disorder, though he showed none of acute pain; the diarrhoea
continued; swelling of the belly and tumefaction of the legs speedily
followed: eight pounds of blood were drawn, and two ounces of oil of
turpentine were given internally, and in spite of another bleeding, and
some subordinate measures, carried him off [the treatment, we presume]
in the course of a few hours.
"Dissection: a slight blush pervaded the peritoneum; at least the
parietal portion of it, for the coats of the stomach and intestines
preserved their natural whiteness. About eight gallons of water were
measured out of the belly.[6] The abdominal viscera, as well as the
thoracic, showed no marks of disease."
We have stated, in the preceding pages, that the farmers can generally
treat some cases of disease, by simple means, with much better success
than some of the regulars; yet there are exceptions. Some of them have
been inoculated with the virus of allopathy; and when an animal is taken
sick, and manifests evident signs of great derangement, they seem to
suppose that the more medicine they cram down the better, forgetting,
perhaps not knowing, that the province of the physician is to know when
to do nothing. Others err from want of judgment; and if they have an
animal sick, they send for the neighbors; each one has a favorite
remedy; down go castor oil, aloes, gin and molasses, in rapid
succession. "He has inflammation of the insides," says one; "give him
salts." No sooner said than done; the salts are hurried down, and, of
course, find their way into the paunch. These, together with a host of
medicines too numerous to mention, are tried without effect: all is
commotion within; fermentation commences; gas is evolved; the animal
gives signs of woe. As a last resort, paunching, bleeding, &c., follow;
perhaps the horns are bored, or some form of barbarity practised, and
the animal dies under the treatment.
A case similar to the above came under our notice a few months since. A
cow, of a superior breed, was sent a few miles into the country to
winter. Having always had the very best of feed, the owner gave
particular instructions that she should be fed accordingly; instead of
which, however, she was fed on foxgrass and other indigestible matter,
in consequence of which she was attacked with acute indigestion,
(gastric fever, as it is generally called,) more popularly known, in
barn-yard language, as a "stoppage." A man professing to understand
_cow-doctoring_ was sent for, who, after administering "every thing he
could think of" without success, gave a mixture of hog's lard and castor
oil. When asked what indication he expected to fulfil, he replied, "My
object was to wake up the cow's ideas"! Unfortunately, he awoke the
wrong ideas; for the cow died. On making a post mortem examination,
about half a bushel of partly-masticated foxgrass was found in the
paunch, and the manyplus was distended beyond its physiological
capacity. On making an incision into it, the partly-digested food was
quite hard and dry, and the mucous covering of the laminae--even the
laminae themselves--could be detached with the slightest force. The
farmer will probably inquire, What ought to be done in such cases?
Before we answer the question, a few remarks on the nature of the
obstruction seem to be necessary.
In the article _Description of the Organs of Digestion_, the reader will
learn the modes by which the food reaches the different compartments of
the stomach. In reference to the above case, the causes of derangement
are self-evident, which will be seen as we proceed. The animal had,
previous to the journey, (thirty miles,) received the greatest care and
attention; in short, she had been petted. Being pregnant at the time,
the stomach was more susceptible to derangement than at any other time.
The long journey could not act otherwise than unfavorably: first,
because it would fatigue the muscular system; secondly, because it would
irritate the nervous. Here, then, are the first causes; and it is
important, in all cases of a deviation from health, to ascertain, as
near as possible, the causes, and remove them. _This is considered the
first step towards a cure._ If we cannot remove the causes, we are
enabled, by an inquiry into them, to adopt the most efficient means for
the recovery of the animal. The animal having had a bountiful meal
before starting on the journey, and not being allowed sufficient time to
remasticate, (rumination is partially or totally suspended during active
exercise,) probably, combined with the above causes, an acute attack of
the stomach set in--subsided after a few days, and left those organs in
a debilitated state. The sudden change in diet also acted unfavorably,
especially as the foxgrass required more than ordinary gastric power to
reduce it to a pulpy mass, fit to enter the fourth, or true digestive
stomach. For want of a due share of vital action in the abomasum,
(fourth stomach,) it was unable to perform its part in the physiological
process of digestion; hence the accumulation found in the manyplus. The
causes of the detachment of laminae, and the blanched appearances,--for
it was as white as new linen,--were partly chemical and partly
mechanical. The mechanical obstruction consisted in over-distention of
the manyplus from food, thereby obstructing the circulation of the blood
through its parietes, (walls,) and depriving it not only of nutriment,
from the nerves of nutrition, but paralyzing its secretive function. It
then became a prey to chemical action and decomposition. The indications
of cure were, to arouse the digestive organs by stimulants, then by
anti-spasmodic, relaxing, and tonic medicines, (for which see
APPENDIX:) the digestive organs would probably have recommenced
their healthy action, and the life of the animal might have been saved.
Oil and grease, of every description and kind, are not suitable remedies
to administer to cattle when laboring under indigestion; for at best
their action is purely mechanical, and cannot be assimilated by the
nutritive function so as to act medicinally. Linseed oil is, however,
absorbed and diffused. If the animal labors under obstinate
constipation, and it is evident that the obstruction is confined to the
intestines, then we may resort to a dose of oil.
The reader will perceive the benefits to be derived from a knowledge of
animal physiology and veterinary medicine, when based upon sound
principles and common sense. He will also see the importance of having
educated and honorable men employed in cattle-doctoring. No doubt there
are such; but surely something is "rotten in Denmark;" for we are
repeatedly told by our patrons that they "judge of the merits of the
veterinary art by the men they find engaged in it."
_Scientific Treatment of Colic, or Gripes._--"On the 5th September,
1824, a young bay mare was admitted into the infirmary with symptoms of
colic, for which she lost eight pounds of blood before she came in. The
following drench was prescribed to be given immediately: laudanum and
oil of turpentine, of each, three ounces, with the addition of six
ounces of decoction of aloes. In the course of half an hour, this was
repeated! But shortly after, she vomited the greater part by the mouth
and nostrils. No relief having been obtained, twelve pounds of blood
were taken from her, and the same drink was given. In another hour, this
drench was repeated; and, for the fourth time, during the succeeding
hour; both of which, before death, she rejected, as she had done the
second drink. Notwithstanding these active measures were promptly taken,
she died about three hours after her admission." (See Clark's _Essay on
Gripes_.) It appears that the doctors made short work of it. Twelve
ounces of laudanum, and the same of turpentine,[7] in three hours! But
this is "_secundum artem_" "skilful treatment"--a specimen of "science
and skill," and justifiable in every case where the symptoms are
"alarming." Let the reader, if he has ever seen a case of colic treated
by us, contrast the result. Had the case been treated with relaxing,
anti-spasmodic, carminative drinks, warmth and moisture externally,
injections internally, and frictions generally, the poor animal would,
probably, have been saved. We have attended many cases of the same sort,
and have not yet lost the first one.
_Extraordinary case of "cattle doctoring"!--which ought to be termed
cattle-killing._--We were requested by Mr. S. of Waltham, December 18,
1850, to see a sick cow. The following is the history of the case: The
cow, as near as we could judge, was of native breed, in good condition,
and in her eighth pregnant month; pulse, 80 per minute; respirations, 36
per minute; external surface, ears, horns, and legs, cold. She had not
dunged for several days. She was found lying on her belly, with her head
turned round towards the left side. She struggled occasionally, and
appeared to suffer from abdominal pain. She uttered a low, moaning sound
when pressure was made on the abdominal muscles. The following facts
were related to us by the owner, which we give in his own language. "I
bought the cow, and drove her about 200 miles to this place. She had
been here about a week, when I perceived she did not eat her feed as
well as usual. She became sick about nine days ago, I thought it best to
begin to doctor her! I employed a man who was reputed to be a pretty
good cattle doctor. She got pretty well dosed between us, for we first
gave her one pound of salts. The next day we gave her another pound.
Finding this also failed to have the desired effect, we gave her one
pound eight ounces more. She kept getting worse. We next gave her a
quart of urine. She still grew worse. Two table-spoonfuls of gunpowder
and a quarter of a pound of antimony were then given; still no
improvement. As a last resort, we gave her eight drops of croton oil; a
few hours afterwards, nine drops more were given; and a final dose of
twenty drops of the same article was administered. The cow rolled her
eyes as if she were about to die. I then called in the neighbors to kill
her, when one of them advised me to come and see you." The reader will
here perceive that we had a pretty desperate case; having been called in
just at the eleventh hour. We may here remark that the cow had been
under treatment nine days, during which time she had eaten scarcely any
food, and passed but very little excrement. The medicine had been given
at different stages during that period. There was evidently no
accumulation of excrement in the rectum, for she had been raked and
received several injections.
As we were not requested to take charge of the case, the owner being
unwilling to incur additional expense, we, therefore, with a view of
giving present relief, and fulfilling the necessary indications, ordered
the following:
Powdered slippery elm, 1 table-spoonful.
" caraways, 1 tea-spoonful.
" marshmallows, 1 table-spoonful.
" skullcap, 1 tea-spoonful.
" grains of paradise, 1 tea-spoonful.
A sufficient quantity of boiling water to form it into the consistence
of thin gruel; a junk bottle full to be given every two hours.
Directions were given to rub the ears and extremities until they were
warm, and the strength of the animal to be supported with thin flour
gruel.