Inflammatory fever manifests itself very suddenly. The animal may appear
well during the day, but at night it appears dull, refuses its food,
heaves at the flanks, seems uneasy, and sometimes delirious; the pulse
is full and bounding; the mouth hot; urine high colored and scanty.
Sometimes there are hot and cold stages.
_Remarks._--When disease attacks any particular organ suddenly, or in an
acute form, inflammatory fever generally manifests itself. Now, disease
may attack the brain, the lungs, kidneys, spleen, bowels, pleura, or
peritoneum. Inflammatory fever may be present in each case. Now, it is
evident that the fever is not the real enemy to be overcome; it is only
a manifestation of disorder, not the cause of it. The skin may be
obstructed, thereby retaining excrementitious materials in the system:
the reabsorption of the latter produces fever; hence it is obvious that
a complete cure can only be effected by the removal of its causes, or,
rather, the restoration of the suppressed evacuations, secretions, or
excretions.
It is very important that we observe and imitate nature in her method of
curing fever, which is, the restoration of the secretions, and, in many
cases, by sweat, or by diarrhoea; either of which processes will
remove the irritating or offending cause, and promote equilibrium of
action throughout the whole animal system. In fulfilling these
indications consists the whole art of curing fever.
But says one, "It is a very difficult thing to sweat an ox." Then the
remedies should be more perseveringly applied. Warm, relaxing,
antispasmodic drinks should be freely allowed, and these should be aided
by warmth, moisture, and friction externally; and by injection, if
needed. If the ox does not actually sweat under this system of
medication, he will throw off a large amount of insensible perspiration.
_Causes._--In addition to the causes already enumerated, are the
accumulation of excrementitious and morbific materials in the system.
Dr. Eberle says, "A large proportion of the recrementitious elements of
perspirable matter must, when the surface is obstructed, remain and
mingle with the blood, (unless speedily removed by the vicarious action
of some other emunctory,) and necessarily impart to this fluid qualities
that are not natural to it. Most assuredly the retention of materials
which have become useless to the system, and for whose constant
elimination nature has provided so extensive a series of emunctories as
the cutaneous exhalents, cannot be long tolerated by the animal economy
with entire impunity."
Dr. White says, "Many of the diseases of horses and cattle are caused by
suppressed or checked perspiration; the various appearances they assume
depending, perhaps, in great measure, upon the suddenness with which
this discharge is stopped, and the state of the animal at the time it
takes place.
"Cattle often suffer from being kept in cold, bleak situations,
particularly in the early part of spring, during the prevalence of an
easterly wind; in this case, the suppression of the discharge is more
gradual, and the diseases which result from it are slower in their
progress, consequently more insidious in their nature; and it often
happens that the animal is left in the same cold situation until the
disease is incurable."
It seems probable that, in these cases, the perspiratory vessels
gradually lose their power, and that, at length, a total and permanent
suppression of that necessary discharge takes place; hence arise
inflammatory fever, consumption, decayed liver, rot, mesenteric
obstructions, and various other complaints. How necessary, therefore, is
it for proprietors of cattle to be provided with sheltered situations
for their stock! How many diseases might they prevent by such
precaution, and how much might they save, not only in preserving the
lives of their cattle, but in avoiding the expense (too often useless,
to say the least of it) of cattle doctoring!
_Treatment._--We first give an aperient, (see APPENDIX,) to
deplete the system. The common practice is to deplete by blood-letting,
which only protracts the malady, and often brings on typhus, black
quarter, joint murrain, &c. Promote the secretions and excretions in the
manner already referred to under the head of _Puerperal Fever_; this
will relieve the stricture of the surface. A drink made from either of
the following articles should be freely given: lemon balm, wandering
milk weed, thoroughwort, or lady's slipper, made as follows:--
Take either of the above articles, 2 ounces.
Boiling water, 2 quarts.
When cool, strain, and add a wine-glass of honey.
If there is great thirst, and the mouth is hot and dry, the animal may
have a plentiful supply of water.
If the malady threatens to assume a putrid or malignant type, add a
small quantity of capsicum and charcoal to the drink, and support the
strength of the animal with flour gruel.