Such a complicated piece of mechanism is the stomach of the ox, that
organ is particularly liable to disease. Inflammation, being the same as
local fever, (or a high grade of vital power, concentrated within a
small space,) may be produced by over-feeding, irritating and
indigestible food, or acrid, poisonous, and offensive medicines. The
farmer must remember that a small quantity of good, nutritious food,
capable of being easily penetrated by the gastric fluids, will repair
the waste that is going on, and improve the condition with more
certainty than an abundance of indifferent provender.
_Cure._--The first indication will be to allay the irritability of the
stomach; this will moderate the irritation and lessen the fever. Make a
mucilaginous drink of slippery elm, or marshmallows, and give half a
pint every two hours. All irritating food and drink must be carefully
avoided, and the animal must be kept quiet; all irritating cordials,
"including the popular remedy, gin and molasses," must be avoided. These
never fail to increase the malady, and may occasion death. If there is
an improper accumulation of food in the viscera, the remedies will be,
relaxing clysters, abstinence from food, and a tea of sassafras and
mandrake, made thus:--
Sassafras, (_laurus sassafras_,) 1 ounce.
Mandrake, (_podophyllum peltatum_,) 4 drachms.
Boiling water, 2 quarts.
Let the mixture stand until quite cool, and give a pint every four
hours.
Almost all animals, when suffering under acute symptoms, require
diluting, cooling drinks. This at once points out the use of water, or
any weak gruel of which water is the basis; the necessity of diluting
liquors is pointed out by the heat and dryness of the mouth, and
rigidity of the coat.
When the thirst is great, the following forms a grateful and cooling
beverage: Take lemon balm, (_melissa officinalis_,) two ounces; boiling
water, two quarts; when cool, strain, and add half a tea-spoonful of
cream of tartar. Give half a pint at intervals of two hours.
If the stomach continues to exhibit a morbid state, which may be known
by a profuse discharge of saliva from the mouth, then administer
camomile tea in small quantities: the addition of a little powdered
charcoal will prove beneficial.
_Remarks._--Gastritis cannot be long present without other parts of the
system sharing the disturbance: it is then termed gastric fever. This
fever is the result of the local affection. Our object is, to get rid of
the local affection, and the fever will subside. Authors have invariably
recommended destructive remedies for the cure of gastritis; but they
generally fail of hitting the mark, and always do more or less injury.
A light diet, rest, a clean bed of straw in a well-ventilated barn, will
generally perfect the cure.