CAUSES.- Holding the water too long, exposure to damp and cold, blows in the region of the kidneys, gravel or stone in the urinary organs, or the presence of some other irritating substance. Perhaps the most fruitful cause of this compliant is the reprehensible practice of using Spanish Fly, nitre, or other strong diuretics, under the mistaken notion of rectifying the discharges of urine. Animals subject to labour, especially in hot weather, perspire much, and hence they pass less urine. If under these circumstances drugs are administered, the blood becomes drained of its watery elements to an injurious extent, and may induce a train of evils in the urinary organs which are difficult to cure.
SYMPTOMS.- Very similar to those of Colic, or Inflammation of the bowels, except that there is also a continual and painful desire to urinate, with discharge of only a few drops of brown or bloody urine. There are also rapid pulse, restlessness, general constitutional disturbance, inflammation and irritation of the whole alimentary canal, excitement of the genito-urinary organs, and mixed with blood. When walking, the animal evinces sings of pain in the hind quarters. The appetite is gone, but there is great thirst. By passing the hand into the rectum, the bladder can be felt under it, distended with urine, hot and painful. Resting on the loins causes great pain; the standing posture is preferred, but the animal leans first on one side, then on the other.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- Feverish symptoms; frequent, ineffectual, and painful attempts to urinate; pain on pressure in the region of the bladder; discharge of scanty, turbid, bloody urine.
Cantharis.- Distention and pain in the region of the bladder; urination drop by drop; great pain in the act; matter and bloody mucus in the urine.
Nux Vom.- If Cantharis should not afford relief.
Arnica.- If the disorder is caused by a blow on the loins.
GENERAL TREATMENT.- Linseed gruel or barley-water should be freely given. Scalded linseed mixed with bran-mash is the most suitable food.
Gonorrhoea – Venereal Disease – Clap
This disease affects both made and female animals, and is known by abscesses, ulcers, and discharge from the sexual organs. In the female the disease “being in from two to four or five days after sexual intercourse, the first symptom being a peculiar shaking and side movement of the tail, which is kept at other times rather close over the fundament; the bearing is at first swollen and sore, afterwards much more swollen, separated, and red in the inside; a mattery discharge, sometimes inconsiderable quantities, flows forth; the urine is made in small quantities, and frequently whilst the act attending it is accompanied by much paid.” In the male animal, “the sheath is red and swollen; a constant discharge of matter issues from it; great pain attends the act of urinating; and the water is voided in small quantities, and in a jerking manner.”
CAUSES.- A peculiar animal poison, which is most readily communicated to both male and female animals by the sexual act. The disease may originate from want of cleanliness, or from the excessive use of the sexual organs.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- This remedy is useful to begin with, when the inflammation is severe and extensive, and when the act of urinating is attended with much pain and difficulty. A dose every three hours, repeated three or four times, will generally be sufficient.
Cantharis.- When the inflammatory symptoms are mitigated, by the difficulty of passing urine is very obstinate, especially if the discharge is greenish, and tinged with blood. A dose every three hours. In some instances this medicine may be administered in turns with the afore-mentioned, giving Aconitum one three hours, and Cantharis the next three hours, and so on.
Mercurius.- After a few doses of these remedies have been given, this remedy will; then be most suitable; it is especially indicated when there is great soreness of the parts, and the discharge of matter is of a white, greenish, or yellow colour, and thick. This remedy may be administered in two-grain doses, thrice daily.
Sulphur. – When the more prominent symptoms have subsided, it will be desirable to have recourse to this remedy, to complete the cure. A dose once or twice daily for several days.
ADDITIONAL MEANS.- The affected parts should frequently be washed with cold water; and cold water should also be injected in to the vagina and rectum. The sexual organs must not be exercised until the disease is cured. Grease.
DEFINITION.- Inflammation and ulceration of the skin in the lower part of the legs, attended with a morbid alteration in the secretion.
CAUSE.- Hereditary weakness of the skin; gross feeding; cold, moisture, and dirt; a specific contagious fluid.
SYMPTOMS.- These have been described under three forms, namely, simple, Ulcerative, and Grapy. In the Simple from, the hind legs are observed to swell, and, if unrelieved, soon discharge drops of an oily fluid, which cling to the hairs in the hollow of the heel; the heels of the hind limbs, and sometimes all the extremities, become chapped; the animals shows great reluctance to have the foot handled, and goes stiff on first leaving the stable; but after a brief interval of exercise the stiffness disappears, and at length he will scarcely limb at all.
In the Ulcerative form, the inflammatory action becomes so severe, and the swelling so excessive, that the skin, no longer possessing its former pliability, splits and cracks, and soon presents to the notice of the observer deep fissures, from which a copious and offensive discharge takes place.- In the Grapy form, all the former symptoms are aggravated; the skin begins to undergo a change of structure, and to generate morbid products; the grapy- like excrescences, at first highly sensitive, become in time less and less so, and become indurated, insensible, cartilaginous, and even horny, which would appear to be their final conversion. From such parts of the skin as remain unoccupied by grapes, there still issues a greasy, rancid, and most offensive discharge, here and there mixed with blood from the crevices between them. By this time the leg has acquired an enormous size, which, irrespective of its sore and painful condition, impedes the action of the limb.
TREATMENT.- In the Simple form :
Arsenicum.- Administer this remedy two or three times daily; and use externally the Arsenical lotion, made as directed, page 38.
Aconitum.- Should the animal be feverish, the administration of Arsenicum may be preceded or alternated with two or three doses of Aconitum.
Sulphur.- The early use of the above remedies followed by a few doses of Sulphur, will generally effect the cure.
In the Ulcerative form:
Arsenicum, both internally and externally, is still the best remedy.
Silicea.- If the discharge is very abundant, give two doses daily, for several days.
Nux Vomica.- If the disease has been caused, or is accompanied by deranged stomach, and the general health of the animal is much affected. A dose every four hours, in alternation with Arsenicum.
In the Grapy form :
Arsenicum. – This medicine should be used both internally and externally.
Sulphur.- In cases of considerable duration this remedy will be found most useful; if may be given intermediately, or when the animal has so far improved as to render any other unnecessary.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- Regard must be had to cleanliness, and also to diet, which must be as unstimulating as possible. Remove the hair from the sores, cleanse them well with tepid water, and, if there be much pain, apply a bran poultice night and morning. If the animal is not worked, it must be exercised daily.
It will often be necessary to change the diet, especially if the animal has been fed with bean meal, oats, etc. Carrots and boiled barley may be allowed, and the food only given in moderate quantities at a time. If the season admit of it, the animal should be turned out to grass for a few weeks.
Hide Bound
This condition is not properly a disease, but a symptom of disease. It consists in the hair being hard and rough, and the skin hard and adhering to the ribs. Accompanying this state of the skin, the abdomen is often distended with flatulence, or contracted and “tucked up.”
CAUSES.- Most frequently, some internal disease, such as derangement of the digestive organs; the presence of worms in the intestinal canal; deficient food; exposure to rough weather; or chronic diseases of the lungs.
TREATMENT.- This must be guided entirely by the nature of the disease with which the hide bound is associated. This must be ascertained, and treated according to the directions given in other parts of this Manual.
As a general rule, Arsenicum will be found useful, especially if there are great emaciation, impaired appetite, loss of strength, and coldness of the skin. Give a dose of the trituration thrice daily for several days, and afterwards night and morning, for a week or then days longer. In cases in which indigestion is well marked, Nux Vom. may be given in ten-drops doses three times day.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."