DISEASES AFFECTING CATTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 6

DISEASES AFFECTING CATTLE.

By Frank Townsfnd Barton, First class Honoursman, Rnyal College of Veterinary Surgeons ; Special Certificates of Distinction in moibid anatomy, cattle natho^ogy, &o. (Scottish Farmer.) DISEASE ABD ITS TREATMENT. When endeavouring to ascertain the nature of any disease, it is advisable to have some STKti'.nmtio way of doing tbis, otherwise signs or sjuovtoms of greater or. le&s importance ate apt

to be overlooked, consequently rendering a correct diagnosis difficult, or oven impoFsible. The practical application of the following methods vsill be found exceedingly simple and conveniently applied :

1. Form. — Lonk at tbe general outline of the animal's body to see whether there is anything unusual iv the ship© of bones or joints. A broken bane, a slipped or dislocated bone, are easily enough told by the difference between the two sides of the animal. In addition to this, the limb may be shorter th*u the corresponding one When a bone is brokeD, as a iulc, swelling soon hhpp n», bat previous to this one can often enough hear a grating sound by manipulating the part injured with the hands. The saund is produced through the tubbing of the broken ends of the bone together.

2. Colour. — Yellowness of the skin, or white part of the eyes is indicative of a liver affection.

3. Dropßicjl Swellings. — These cotireionly come on when an unimal i* effected with li9*rt, kidney, or liver dise*se, and are goucrallv seen between the lower jaw, dewlap, or in connection with tha limbs and other dependent parta of the body. A swollen state of the vein running up the neck points to disease in councct'on with the heart, or of the vein itself, more frequently the former. 4. Attitude. — The manner of standiag or lying is ofcen suggestive of certain diseases. For instance, the cow, during the uncomcious $tage of milk fever (parturient apoplexy), lies with her he id and neck turned towards , the hind quartern and gronnd. In the eatly stage of stomach disorders cattle 6 1 a,nd in a dull and stupid uanner, giviug a grunt when made to move. la foot and mouth disease thera is generally a shiftiness about the feet. During inflammation of the lungs and their coverings cattle are usually found lying down. Pain witbin the belly is indicated by a sharp picking up of a limb.

5. The Pulse.— This is usually felt at the right hand side of the lower jaw. As a guide it is only of v«lu» in the case of adult cattle, and oren then mistakes are very apt to creep in unless considerable care is exercised. It is a very good plan to practise pulse taking upon healthy cattle, so th&t the owner may have some confidence in himeelf when dealing with sickness. In the heaHhy ox and cow the pulse beats from 45 to 55 times per miuute. In certain diseases, such as inflammation affecting the luugs or bowels, the number of pulsations may be doubled, or even more, while in come brain affections, opiam poisoning, or liver disorder, they may be muoh fewer than in health. Now, although the number of pulsations per minute is important enough in ita way, our readers must understand that the "character" of the pulse is of still greater importance. By the term " character " we mean the sensation which is imparted fco the tip 3of the fingers when these are placed . upon the blood-vc s<el (artery). For in^Unce, it may impress us as being "hard," -"coft," "full," "small," "quick," " wicy," &c.-, and at the same time it may be regular or irregular. In order that the reader may fully appreciate these several features of the pulse, it is necessary that the animal be in the stall quiet, and I hit the tyi of tho second finger bo brought quiftly aud lighUy upou the blood-vessel previously indicated. Ik is the beat plan to stand on the left side (which is the eff-side of ox), and allow the right hand to pass quio'ly over theneok, until the finger lip ooraea to about the middle of the lower jaw, where it is "rolled" a bit so as to bring it upon the artery, the wall of which will be felt rising and falling — i.c , tho puleo. Dou'b preps tco firmly, nor yet ton lightly, buh just niroly. If proper care is exo.-oisod, and thu pulse U »t its luatthy standard, it will be felt boding firmly, regnkrjy, and abjub its given number. In ffcvc-ra the pulse is increased. During calving it is incraafltd,

6. The breathing should ba noticed. When oatfcle are afc perfect ivsb, the number of " respiration "—i.e., the taking "in" of airand giving " out " of impure air-are 12 to 15 per minute, or about one respiration to every four beats of the puke, In lung affect iodh tbe breathing is quickened aud perhaps painful. During the "-sleepy stage" of milk fever, as well as eoine other complaints in which the brain is affecjted, a " snoring " sound may be beard, and its presence is usually of grave importance Diseases attacking tbe windpipe, throat, or structure') in the imniediwts vicinity of these are exceedingly liable to be productive of coarse or even difficult breathing.

7. The temperature of the animal's body affords a ready means of mirking the rise and fall of fevers. The temperature in health should be about lOOdcg to lOldeg* Fahr., and a little instrument known as a "clinical thermometer" is ueed for ascertaining this and otter degrees of heat. Suoh an instrument, should be in the bands of every stockowner Good and reliable thermometers of this description can be h»d of mest opticians and mrgicil instrument dealers fora matter of 3s or 4-s. On looking at one of these our readers will observethatitconeistsof abulb, with its confined mercury ; a stem, bearing the figures 90, 95, 100, 105, and 110. Towards the bottom of the stt m there is a little detached piece of mercury (quicksilver); this is called the " index." The B<em bears strikes, which it is convenient to designate by the terms "long," "medium," ted "ehoEt." Each long and each, medium

Btrokejindicates degrees, but the short mark has only the value of two-tenths of a degree. Now, supposing that the bulb of the thermometer be placed in warm wa f er, the mere'ury within it will expand (for a characteristic, property of this metallic liquid is its power of expanding on heating and contracting on cooling) &i<d rise, pushing before it the index. L?t as assume that this latter has its tip 'touching the longest otroke, opposite 100, then it win indicate thit the temperature of the water is 100 leg F»hr. By .carefully adding a few drops of ttill warmer water, the iip of the index can be versauded to rise bo the first stroke of nredintn ksiigth aflcr 100, which «-#lls us that the beat of th-* liquid ia lOldeg. Again, by adding anrthci- firop or two of warmer wttor, thia index can bo niide to touch the first short stroke after 101d"g, Tthich means that the water has a temperature of lOldcg plui twu-ti-uths of a degree, or more briefly thus — 101 fcdeg Fahr. If it rises to the second short stroke after 101, then it implies a temp.rature of-101^4- 10 of a decree, indicated aftar Ibis fa*hiou— ( lor4-deg Fahr. Reference to the instrument will at once render this evident. The way to use the thermometer is by taking the instrument in the right baud, grasping the tip of the stem between the. fingers of the right, and knocking the ball of the~hand against the knee in order to bring the " inriex", down to about, or batweon, the figure 90 and 95. Having done this, raise tho anunal'* tail (at its root) with ths left h«id, and (hen quietly insert the bulb and about half an inch of the Bteoa into the bowel (rectum), allowing it to remain here three or four minutes. Cure must be taken to keep hold of the instrument during this time, and this by its tip, otherwise a "false register " may result. It ia a very gcod plan to moisten the thermometer with a little spittle, so as to favour it- 3 introduction through the anus. The temperature of the body is lowest between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. ; highest between G p.m. aud 9 p.m. ; therefore it is correct to take the temperature at the same hours morning and evening. The following table will euable our readers to know the landmarks of body heat — i «., the temperature :— ,

About 104-deg Fahr. is a very common tfmperaturtj in fevers attendant upon such diseases as gargob (iufl&mmation of the uddci), bronchitis, coogf stion of the lungs, jfc". In milk fryer the temperature is not often wised at all. Such disease? as splenic apoplexy, foot and mouth, fardel bounrl, omitagious lu»g fever, rinderpest (past), blood-poiconiug, acute tubriculoei«, &c , often enough give vary high readings. Stimulants (brandy, whisky, gin, am-Tioiua, So.) incri>oe the temperature until thfir ••ffr.ct* pass off, subsequently leaving it lower. The thermometer is not only the right hand inslrume'nt for marking the increase or decrease of febrile disturbance when such has bsoome established, but (and this ia of more importance) it acts as a reliable " nign*! " for regulating our c>nduc]fc ss to the prevent ion aud spreading of cwtiin communicable diteises. Thus, by its tinne'y me, one is enabled to mark tbo 80-c#l!ed " in-mb* tive " (batching) period of such diseases as contagious plruropuouwonia, anthrax, foot and mouth disease, *wine ftver, &c In all of those diseased this little inetument may be trusted, and is trusted, to warn the stockowner of coming disto^s tr freedom therefrom.

battle, ia health Slight fever ... P\ver Moderate fever High fever ... Extreme fever Beg. Fuhr. ... 100 to 101 ... 102 6 ... JOS ... 104 to 104-4 ... H>s-4t0106 ... 107 to]oSl CIS n , Kainw