The American Reformed Cattle Doctor Part 21

GARGET.

In order to prevent this malady, the calf should be put to suck immediately after the caw has cleansed it; and, if the bag is distended with an overplus of milk, some of it should be milked off. If, however, the teats or quarters become hot and tender, foment with an infusion of elder or camomile flowers, which must be perseveringly applied, at the same time drawing, in the most gentle manner, a small quant.i.ty of milk; by which means the over-distended vessels will collapse to their healthy diameter. An aperient must then be given, (see APPENDIX,) and the animal be kept on a light diet. If there is danger of matter forming, rub the bag with the following liniment:--

Goose oil, } equal parts.

Hot drops, }

If the parts are exceedingly painful, wash with a weak lie, or wood ashes, or sal soda. In spite of all our efforts, matter will sometimes form. As soon as it is discovered, a lancet may be introduced, and the matter evacuated; then wash the part clean, and apply the stimulating liniment. (See APPENDIX.)

SORE TEATS.

First wash with castile soap and warm water; then apply the following:--

Lime water, } equal parts.

Linseed oil, }

CHAPPED TEATS AND CHAFED UDDER.

These may be treated in the same manner.

If the above preparation is not at hand, subst.i.tute bayberry tallow, elder or marshmallow ointment.

FEVER.

_Description and Definition._--Fever is a powerful effort of the vital principle to expel from the system morbific or irritating matter, or to bring about a healthy action. The reason why veterinary pract.i.tioners have not ascertained this fact heretofore is, because they have been guided by false principles, to the exclusion of their own common experience. Let them receive the truth of the definition we have given; then the light will begin to shine, and medical darkness will be rendered more visible. Fever, we have said, is a vital action--an effort of the vital power to regain its equilibrium of action through the system, and should never be subdued by the use of the lancet, or any destructive agents that deprive the organs of the power to produce it.

Fever will be generally manifested in one or more of that combination of signs known as follows: loss of appet.i.te, increased velocity of the pulse, difficult respiration, heaving at the flank, thirst, pain, and swelling; some of which will be present, local or general, in greater or less degree, in all forms of disease. When an animal has taken cold, and there is power in the system to keep up a continual warfare against encroachments, the disturbance of vital action being unbroken, the fever is called pure or persistent. Emanations from animal or vegetable substances in a state of decomposition or putrefaction, or the noxious miasmata from marshy lands, if concentrated, and not sufficiently diluted with atmospheric air, enter into the system, and produce a specific effect. In order to dethrone the intruder, who keeps up a system of aggression from one tissue to another, the vital power arrays her artillery, in good earnest, to resist the invading foe; and if furnished with the munitions of war in the form of sanative agents, she generally conquers the enemy, and dictates her own terms. While the forces are equally balanced, which may be known by a high grade of vital action, it is also called _unbroken_ or _pure_ fever. The powers of the system may become exhausted by efforts at relief, and the fever will be periodically reduced; this form of fever is called _remittent_. By remittent fever is to be understood this modification of vital action which rests or abates, but does not go entirely off before a fresh attack ensues. It is evident, in this case, also, that nature is busily engaged in the work of establishing her empire; but being more exhausted, she occasionally rests from her labors. It would be as absurd to expect that the most accurate definition of fever in one animal would correspond in all its details with another case, as to expect all animals to be alike. There are many names given to fevers; for example, in addition to the two already alluded to, we have milk or puerperal fever, symptomatic, typhus, inflammatory, &c. Veterinary Surgeon Percival, in an article on fever, says, "We have no more reason--not near so much--to give fever a habitation in the abdomen, than we have to enthrone it in the head; but it would appear from the full range of observation, that no part of the body can be said to be unsusceptible of inflammation, (local fever,) though, at the same time, no organ is invariably or exclusively affected."

From this we learn that disease always attacks the weakest organ, and that our remedies should be adapted to act on all parts of the system.

The same author continues, "All I wish to contend for is, that both idiopathic and symptomatic fevers exhibit the same form, character, species, and the same general means of cure; and that, were it not for the local affection, it would be difficult or impossible to distinguish them."

Fever has always been the great bugbear, to scare the farmer and cattle doctor into a wholesale system of blood-letting and purging; they believe that the more fever the animal manifests, the more unwearied must be their exertions. The author advises the farmer not to feel alarmed about the fever; for when that is present it shows that the vital principle is up and doing. Efforts should be made to open the outlets of the body, through which the morbific materials may pa.s.s: the fever will then subside. It will be difficult to make the community credit this simple truth, because fever is quite a fashionable disease, and it is an easy matter to make the farmer believe that his cow has a very peculiar form of it, that requires an entirely different mode of treatment from that of another form. Then it is very profitable to the interested allopathic doctor, who can produce any amount of "learned nonsense" to justify the ways and means, and support his theory.

The author does not wish, at the present time, to enter into a learned discussion of the merit or demerit of allopathy: the object of this work is, to impart practical information to farmers and owners of stock. In order to accomplish this object, an occasional reference to the absurdities of the old school is unavoidable.

A celebrated writer has said, "The very medicines [meaning those used by the old school, which kill more than they ever cure] which aggravate and protract the malady bind a laurel on the doctor's brow. When, at last, the sick are saved by the living powers of nature struggling against death and the physician, he receives all the credit of a miraculous cure; he is lauded to the skies for delivering the sick from the details of the most deadly symptoms of misery into which he himself had plunged them, and out of which they never would have arisen, but by the restorative efforts of that living power which at once triumphed over poison, blood-letting, disease, and death."

In the treatment of disease, and when fever is manifested by the signs just enumerated, the object is, to invite the blood to the external surface; or, in other words, equalize the circulation by warmth and moisture; give diaph.o.r.etic or sudorific medicines, (see APPENDIX,) with a view of relaxing the capillary structure, ridding the system of morbific materials, and allaying the general excitement. If the ears and legs are cold, rub them diligently with a brush; if they again relapse into a cold state, rub them with stimulating liniment, and bandage them with flannel. In short, to contract, to stimulate, remove obstructions, and furnish the system with the materials for self-defence, are the means to be resorted to in the cure of fevers.

We shall now give a few examples of the treatment of fever; from which the reader will form some idea of the course to be pursued in other forms not enumerated. But we may be asked why we make so many divisions of fever when it is evidently a unit. We answer the question, in the words of Professor Curtis, whose teachings first emanc.i.p.ated us from the absurdity of allopathic theories. "These divisions were made by the learned in physic, and we follow them out in their efforts to divide what is in its nature indivisible, to satisfy the demands of the public, and to give it in small crumbs to those pract.i.tioners of the art who have not capacity enough to take in the whole at a single mouthful."

In the treatment of fevers, we must endeavor to remove all intruding agents, their influences and effects, and reestablish a full, free, and universal equilibrium throughout the system. "The means are," says Professor Curtis, "antispasmodics, stimulants, and tonics, with emollients to grease the wheels of life. Disprove these positions, and we lay by the pen and 'throw physic to the dogs.' Adhere strictly to them in the use of the best means, and you will do all that can be done in the hour of need."

MILK OR PUERPERAL FEVER.

_Treatment._--Aperients are exceedingly important in the early stages, for they liberate any offending matter that may have acc.u.mulated in the different compartments of the stomach or intestines, and deplete the system with more certainty and less danger than blood-letting.

_Aperient for Puerperal Fever._

Roch.e.l.le salts, 4 ounces.

Manna, 2 ounces.

Extract of b.u.t.ternut, half an ounce.

Dissolve in boiling water, 3 quarts.

To be given at a dose.

By the aid of one or more of the following drinks, the aperient will generally operate:--

Give a bountiful supply of hyssop tea, sweetened with honey. Keep the surface warm.

Suppose the secretion of milk to be arrested; then apply warm fomentations to the udder.

Suppose the bowels to be torpid; then use injections of soap-suds and salt.

Suppose the animal to be in poor condition; then give the following:--

Powdered balmony or gentian, 1 ounce.

Golden seal, 1 ounce.

Flour gruel, 1 gallon.

To be given in quart doses, every four hours.

Suppose the bowels to be distended with gas; then give the following:--

Powdered caraways, 1 ounce.

a.s.safoetida, 1 tea-spoonful.

Boiling water, 2 quarts.

To be given at a dose.

Any of the above preparations may be repeated, as circ.u.mstances seem to require. Yet it must be borne in mind that we are apt to do too much, and that the province of the good physician is "to know when to do nothing." The following case from Mr. Youatt's work ill.u.s.trates this fact:--

"A very singular variety of milk fever has already been hinted at. The cow is down, but there is apparently nothing more the matter with her than that she is unable to rise; she eats and drinks, and ruminates as usual, and the evacuations are scarcely altered. In this state she continues from ten days to a fortnight, and then she gets up well." Yes, and many thousands more would "get up well," if they were only let alone. Nature requires a.s.sistance sometimes; hence the need of doctors and nurses. All, however, that is required of the doctor to do is, just to attend to the calls of nature,--whose servant he is,--and bring her what she wants to use in her own way. The nearer the remedies partake or consist of air, water, warmth, and food, the more sure and certain are they to do good.

If a cow, in high condition, has just calved, appears restless, becomes irritable, the eye and tongue protruding, and a total suspension of milk takes place, we may conclude that there is danger of puerperal fever. No time should be lost: the aperient must be given immediately; warm injections must be thrown into the r.e.c.t.u.m, and the teats must be industriously drawn, to solicit the secretion of milk. In this case, all food should be withheld: "starve a fever" suits this case exactly.