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 diarrhoea--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."