INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.

Inflammation of the Lungs is caused by perspiration, sudden and great changes of the weather, especially when accompanied with wet and damp air at night, and particularly when driving a long journey.

Symptoms are dullness, shivering cough, particularly soar, the ear, roots of the horns and legs are generally cold; the breath and mouth is hot, the mouth generally open, and there is a ropy discharge from it; the beast will often lie down and can scarcely be induced to move, the flanks heave, the head is protruded, showing great difficulty in breathing.

Remedy:—Copious bleeding is the first and great important remedy; bleed until the beast trembles, if you do not, you will lose your beast; next, place in your seton in the dewlap, fire the sides and blister, then follow with the Fever medicine. Emetic tartar 1 drachm, digitalis ½ drachm, nitre ⅓ drachms; continue until relieved twice a day.

DERANGEMENT OF THE LUNGS.

When the milch Cow is attacked, there is a diminution of the milk, and it has a ropy appearance and a saltish taste after being separated from the cream. The animal has a heavy appearance; the eyes being dull, with a stiffened staggering gait; the appetite is impaired, the nostrils and skin is of a yellow color, the bowels are generally costive, by pressing on the edge of the short ribs on the right side, the animal will shrink, indicating pain and tenderness. Remedy:—If any fever bleed, then follow with one or two drachms of calomel, 1 scruple of Opium, 2 drachms of ginger, give in gruel a few hours afterwards. Give 12 ounces epsom salt and half pint Linseed oil; the calomel and opium may be repeated twice a day, and the purgative also, until the bowels are sufficiently operated upon; the sides may also be blistered, and seton may also be inserted. If the animal should be left weak, use the following tonic drink:—Gentian root powder ½ oz., ginger 1 drachm, epsom salts 2 oz., mix the whole with a pint of warm water gruel, and give it morning and night.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.

Causes:—It proceeds most commonly from redundancy of blood, or overflowing of the blood, by means of hastening the fattening too rapidly, or by turning in a rich pasture.

Symptoms:—In the early period of it, the beast is dull and stupid, he stands with his head protruding, or pressed against something for support, he refuses to eat, is unconscious of the surrounding objects, now and then suddenly drops as if he were shot, he starts up all at once, is fearless of any surrounding object, his eyes will become red starting from their sockets, will stagger about, falling and rising again and run against everything in his way, he will stamp, tear up the ground with its horns, run at every one within its reach, bellowing until nature is quite exhausted; trembling will then come over him, he will grind his teeth and saliva will pour from his mouth, every limb will be convulsed and he will presently fall and die.

Remedy:—The chief or only cure is bleeding, let the blood flow rapidly until he falls from the loss of blood. Setons should be placed on each side of the poll, and blistered on the forehead, then follow with heavy doses of physic, when relieved feed cautiously for a few weeks.

STAGGERS OR SWIMMING in THE HEAD.

Cause:—Starvation during the winter season, and being admitted into too fertile a pasture in the Spring, producing a redundancy of blood, which gives rise to the disease.

Symptoms:—Are heaviness, dullness, disposition to sleep, resting his head upon any convenient place, reels and staggers when he attempts to walk.

If this disease is not checked by bleeding, or purging, or proper management, it may terminate in inflammation of the brain or fever.

Remedy:—This must be remedied by bleeding, purging and giving the fever medicine—after purging, give emetic tartar one drachm, digitalis ½ drachm, nitre ¼ drachms twice a day until relieved, feed cautiously.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS WITH COSTIVENESS.

Inflammation of the bowels is by no means an uncommon disease among neat cattle, very often proves fatal. It is easily recognized by the peculiar symptoms.

Cause:—This disease mostly arises from exposure to cold, and especially when cattle go into rivers or ponds, after being heated and fatigued, chilling the blood. It is sometimes produced by too much dry or stimulating food.

Symptoms:—The animal is continually lying down, getting up again, strikes at his belly with his hind feet. The bowels obstinately constipated; dungs in small quantities, hard, covered with mucus at times, streaked with blood—the urine is generally voided with difficulty and heaving at the flanks, accompanied with fever, becomes fearfully weak and staggers as he walks, he leaves his company, hides himself under hedges, &c. Becomes deaf, he trembles all over, his skin is hot, back and loins tender, ears and horns hot, indicating the highest degree of general fever.

Remedy:—The first thing to be done and that which admits of no delay, is to bleed profusely. Next, purge freely; continue the purging medicines until the bowels are freely opened, then lessen the doses so as to keep the bowels open. In severe cases you must give injections until the medicines operate freely. This is a very dangerous disease and the course pursued must be decisive, or the beast is lost! The only hope you have after bleeding, is in physicing; you should by all means clyster largely and in great quantities, the epsom salts and castor oil will do no harm; thin gruel is very good! Let these hints suffice.

DIARRHEA OR PURGING.

Diarrhea or Purging:—In the first place indicates some disordered state of the bowels, or the presence of some offending matter in them, and he will endeavor to remedy this; not by attempting to arrest the discharge too speedily! First, give a mild physic, then follow with the astringent.

Remedy:—Take a strong decoction, white oak bark 3 ounces, laudanum 1½ oz., golden tincture 1 oz. Give it in thin gruel until relieved.

Dysentery, Slimy Flux, or scouring rot is treated the same way. The symptoms of this are considerable tenderness on the spine a little beyond the shoulders, the dewlap hangs down, and has a flabby appearance; the dung runs off with a putrid and offensive smell, and as it falls upon the ground, rises up in bubbles, the hair appears pen feathered or starring; the eyes are generally inflamed, with heaving of the flanks, painful twitching of the belly, severe straining, griping, &c. This disease treated the same as Diarrhea.

RED WATER.

Red Water:—This disease consists of a discharge of high colored urine, occasionally tinged with a bloody appearance, it is an affection of the kidneys; in some cases the discharge changes to a dark red, or blackish color. When the kidneys are effected, the beast evinces tenderness on pressing the loins.

Remedy:—Take oil of juniper ½ oz., laudanum 1 oz., oil turpentine 1 oz., mix and give in a pint linseed tea, once or twice a day until relieved. The oil of juniper may be increased or diminished as the case may require it.

GARGET, DOWNFALL IN THE UDDER, OR INFLAMED BAG.

This is a disease of the utmost consequence to the owners of Cattle; young Cows in high condition are most liable to it, especially at the time of calving. This disease makes its appearance in one or more quarters of the bag, which becomes swollen, hard, hotter than usual and painful when pressed. The milk is lessened and mingled with blood, pus and corruption, at times the flow of milk is totally stopped and sometimes the inflammation extends to the hip joint, hock and foot lock.

Remedy:—It will be necessary as soon as the downfall is discovered, and especially in an aggravated case, to bring the animal out of the pasture and if deemed necessary, take from three to five quarts of blood according to the size or strength, next give her a purging drink and bathe the udder well with elder ointment, or use mercurial garget ointment, which is made by taking soft Soap 1 lb., Mercurial Ointment 2 ounces, camphor rubbed down with a little spirits of wine 1 ounce, rub them well together. Should there be any fever, give a few doses of fever medicine; this is a disease of great importance, as many Cows are ruined or lost purely from neglect. The milk must be taken from the Cow perfectly clean, and this should be done several times during the day; and the Cow must be fed scantily and with no stimulating food.

The teats sometimes get very sore, this is easily remedied by using the ointment for sore teats. Take elder ointment 6 ounces, Bees wax 2 ounces, Sugar of lead 1 ounce, Alum 1 ounce in fine powder, mix them well together, whilst cooling bathe the teats freely.

TREATMENT OF THE COW, BEFORE AND DURING CALVING.

It is an old and true saying, and the truth of it is nowhere more evident than in treatment of the Milch Cow; that the prevention of an evil is better than the cure. The Cow should be dried six or eight weeks before calving, for two reasons: First, the strength and constitution of the Cow require a little respite. Second, the mixture of the old milk and the new secretions, that nature prepares for the expected calf. During the early period of gestation, the animal may and should be tolerably well fed, for she has to provide milk for the Dairy, and nourishment for the fœtus. But when she is dried, her food should be considerably diminished:—She should not be too fat, or full of blood at the time of calving, for that is the frequent cause of difficult labor, garget fever and death.

There are few things in which the Farmer errs, more than in this. There is also an error in starving her before she calves, but, is much more danger in bringing her into too high condition. Some Cows are apt to slink their calves before their time; this generally happens about the middle of their pregnancy. She becomes feverish of her food, wandering in search of something which she seems to be longing for. She should be immediately removed from the other cows, bled and physiced; the best thing to be done is to fatten her for the butcher, for she will be very certain to do the same again. When the ninth month is nearly expired, she should be looked after; if in high condition, she should be physiced, and if necessary, bled, and if she is about to calve, she should be separated from the other cows, or brought into the cow-house, and suffered to remain quiet, and undisturbed. But should she not be successful in calving within a reasonable time, she should have assistance.

Symptoms:—Are uneasiness, slight lifting of the tail, lying down and getting up. The still earlier symptoms are enlargement of the udder, and redness of the space between the shape and the udder.

Treatment:—When the labor has actually commenced, the membranes will more and more protrude until they break, and the fluid by which the calf was surrounded will escape. If her pains are strong, she should not be meddled with for a few hours. And if no portion of the Calf presents itself, the hand well greased should be introduced, in order to ascertain the situation, and position of the calf. The natural position is with the fore feet presenting, and the muzzel lying upon the fore leg. If this is found to be the case and it has advanced into the passage, sometime longer should be allowed to see what nature will do. However, as soon as you perceive the throes to begin to weaken, if no progress has been made, manual assistance must be rendered.

Here there are two objects to be accomplished; the saving of the lives of both the mother and the young one; all should be done gently.

THE MODE OF ASSISTANCE.

The hand should be well greased, then introduced, and the fore-legs of the calf laid hold of and drawn down, drawing gently at the moment of the mother’s throes. Care should be taken that the head is accompanying them. The hand will sometimes be sufficient for this purpose. If the head cannot be moved by the hand, a cord must be procured with a slip knot at the end, which is to be moved carefully into the passage, and the mouth of the young animal being opened, fastened round his lower jaw, the end of this must be given to an assistant, who should pull gently but firmly at the moment of the throes, while the operator draws out the feet.

Should not this succeed, take two other cords or rope, and fasten one around each leg—two assistants should pull at the feet and another at the head; while one ascertains the progress that is made—too much force should not be used, as the calf may yet be saved. Remember the natural position of the calf, is the presenting of the muzzel lying upon the fore-legs. The most usual false position, is the presentation of the head, while the feet of the calf are doubled down under his belly. A cord must be passed as before, around the lower jaw, which is then to be pushed back into the womb. The operator now introduces his hand and feels the situation of the feet, then fix a cord around each pastern, or about the knee, and bring them into the passage. The head is next to be brought forward again by means of the cord; the cords being now pulled steadily together, it will generally be extracted. Should the calf be dead, and much swollen, the head may then be opened by means of a knife, so as to lessen the bulk. When the feet present and the head is doubled under the rim of the passage, the cords should be placed round the feet, the hand passed into the womb, and the cord looped round the lower jaw. The calf pushed farther back into the womb, the head brought into the passage and the three ropes pulled together. The delivery effected as quickly as may be without the exertion of more force than is necessary.

The last false presentation is the breach—the tail appearing at the mouth of the shape. The hand is to be passed into the uterus, fasten the cords around each hock. The calf is then pushed as far back as possible into the womb, and the hocks are after brought into the passage, the head placed in the proper position, and the ropes changed if necessary, and all three cords drawn gently, until the calf is extracted; considerable force is sometimes needed, but should all be done gently, with an increase of drawing, until the job is completed. By studying these cases, the operator will be able to accomplish his object. In all cases of false presentations, although great force must sometimes be used.

The uterus, or calf bed is sometimes protruded and inverted. The case is not desperate. The part must be cleansed from blood and dirt, and supported by a sheet, then the operator beginning at the very bottom of the womb, returning gradually, and with great care, and patience. The animal should be bled before this is attempted, and the application of cold water should be used for some time; this will contract the womb, and render its return more easy. A stick or couple should be passed through the lips of the shape; in order to prevent its return, and give the following medicines a few times: Take laudanum 1 oz., sweet spirits of nitre 2 oz., give in a pint of warm gruel. The protrusion or inversion of the gut, should be returned the same as in the womb, and a few sticks placed through the shape.

The Cow should in all cases be suffered to lick or clean the calf, as nature has designed it. The cow and calf will be much happier if suffered to remain together for several hours, having free access to each other. The mother should not be exposed to severe weather, immediately after calving. Should have a few warm mashes.

THE MILK FEVER.

This is a disease which is prevalent amongst Cows in high condition.

Symptoms:—Staggering gait, breathing irregular, eyes full and glassy, the animal reels, is unconscious, the head turned on one side, the feeling partially lost, the legs sometimes become paralyzed.

Remedy:—Take epsom salts 12 ounces, flour sulphur 4 ounces, ginger ¼ oz., spirits of nitrous ether 1 oz., dissolve in warm water—give one half of this twice a day, until the bowels are opened, continue until relieved.

DISEASES OF THE EYE.

Diseases of the eye are generally inflammations, and caused by a bruise or blow inflicted carelessly.

Remedy:—First bathe the eye well with cold water several times, say some ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Then use the following lotion. Take 40 grains sulphate of zinc, dissolve in ½ pint soft warm water, and bathe the eyes until completely relieved.

THE HOOVE OR BLOWEN FROM PASTURE.

Causes:—The cause of Cattle becoming bloated, is from being turned into the pasture in the spring of the year, whilst the pasture is young and full of sap, the ox or cow eats greedily and rapidly, so much so that the stomach is unable to propel forward, the portions of food as it is received, and becomes overloaded and clogged, the food remaining in the stomach too long. Then comes the great danger; what you can do must be done at once, or not at all. The symptoms are plain enough, the beast swells to an enormous extent, the breathing is very laborious, and the beast is threatened with suffocation from the pressure of the stomach on the lungs. The animal is lost unless relief is soon obtained.

Remedy:—Relief is sometimes obtained from motion and running the beast moderately; sometimes from placing tar, or a tar band into the mouth; sometimes from taking salt and black pepper and throwing it down the throat; some persons have run a lancet, or pocket knife, into the animal, at the spot passing through the skin, and the wall of the belly, so as to enter the paunch; this should be done midway between the last rib and the haunch bone. Another excellent remedy is ½ oz. Chloride of Lime, put into a pint or quart of warm water, and put into the stomach, these generally give immediate relief. There are other remedies, which generally give relief; such as Lime water—also 1½ ounces of Hartshorn may be given, with 1½ pints of water, or 1 ounce Sulphuric Ether in 1 pint of water. The following is plain and simple, and gives relief in almost every case. This has been used extensively, and always given satisfaction.

Receipt:—Take two tablespoonsful Rappee Snuff, 1 gill Vinegar, 1 gill Sweet Milk. Mix well and give as a drench. This has been thoroughly tried and relieved nineteen cases out of twenty; it is simple and worthy of attention. No time should be lost in this disease; what you can do must be done at once, or not at all.

Preventatives:—Every Farmer should adopt the rule, to feed his cattle the following:

Every morning, take 1 pint air slacked lime, 1 pint ground alum salt—mix well and feed with offal. Every particle of the lime should be slacked. Adopt this rule and you will have little or no trouble with your cattle. Dose from 1 to 2 tablespoonsful every morning, in offal before turning into pasture. Another preventative:—Take ashes, air slacked lime, and ground alum salt, equal portions, and feed every morning, or if you have not the lime, the salt and ashes will do well.

CHOKING.

Cattle are extremely liable to become choked on turnips, roots, apples, potatoes.

Remedy:—Give ½ pint of oil, which will lubricate the passage, then run gag, or tube, or rod, with a knob at the end, down the throat; this should be done carefully, so as not to injure the parts. Should you not give relief by this means, find the position, or place where the apple, or turnip has lodged. This may be done by pressing carefully along down the throat; place a block on the one side of the object, then strike a right smart blow with a mallet, or billet of wood, sufficient to crush the apple or object to pieces, which will instantly be blown out, and the animal relieved.

POISONS.

Little can be done in this, unless you have a pump, so as to extract the poison from the stomach, then follow with physics.

EMBROCATION FOR BITE OF VIPER.

Take hartshorn, spirits camphor, olive oil, equal quantities—mix and rub the wound, and neighboring parts well, morning and night.

One pint whiskey, 1 ounce hartshorn, 1 oz. spirits camphor, ½ pint warm water should be given to the animal.

WOUNDS.

The first thing is to clean the wound from all dirt and gravel. A good fomentation with warm water will effect this. If the wound is much lacerated, or punctured, we must bring them neatly together. If any portions so torn as to prevent its from doing this completely, they should be removed with a knife, or sharp scissors; then the edges brought together by means of passing a needle and strong waxed twine deeply through them, making two, three or more stitches, half inch from each other. Then apply the tincture of myrrh and aloes, and bandage tolerably firm, not so much so as to prevent the circulation. If there should be proud flesh, the wound must be cleansed with a strong solution of blue vitriol, and then dressed with the tincture. All wounds should be first well cleansed, before applying anything on them.

ANGLE BERRIES OR WARTS.

These are little warty tumors, growing on various parts of the skin, and sometimes on the teats.

Remedy:—The easiest and shortest way to remove them, is to tie a piece of waxed silk firmly around the base of each, and to tighten them every day; by means of this, the tumor will drop off, and will rarely grow again. To make it certain, the parts should be touched with a hot iron or lunar caustic; the warts should be well scarred, and they will never appear again.

THE FOUL IN THE FOOT.

The first thing is to examine the wound carefully, and see how far it extends under the hoof or horn. The first step is to clean all the foul or proud flesh, by means of a knife, then apply lunar caustic, or muriatic acid, until the wound becomes healthy and dry. In extreme cases where there is swelling, apply a poultice night and morning, then apply the caustic, and keep dry and from all danger of getting dirt and gravel in. When the wound begins to look healthy, apply the tincture of Aloes and Myrrh, until perfectly relieved, and give a gentle purgative.

TO DRY A COW OF HER MILK.

The best time to dry cows is whilst feeding dry feed. A good dose of physic and after it has operated, follow with an astringent drink, will generally settle the business. Six drachms of alum dissolved in 1 pint water, is a dose. The cow should be milked clean when the astringent is given; feed on dry food for a few days. Should the udder get very hard in a few days, milk clean and give another astringent drink, and the third may be given if necessary.

THE MANGE.

This is a troublesome disease among cattle, at times the itching torments the beast wonderfully, causing the cow to fall off in her milk, and generally get thin in flesh, if suffered to remain any length of time. The most effectual application is an ointment, which, sulphur is the principal ingredient.

Mange Ointment:—Take flour of sulphur 1 lb., strong mercurial ointment 2 ounces, common turpentine ½ pint, lard 1½ lb. Melt the turpentine and lard together well; stir in the sulphur when it begins to cool—when cool, rub the mercurial ointment on a marble slab, with the other ingredients, mix these together. This should be well rubbed in with the hand daily, wherever there is mange. If in the winter, the animal should not be exposed to severe cold. Give a few doses of physic, with sulphur added to it. Warbles gad fly or ose fly, is quite an annoyance to the animal. The fly generally alights on the back, deposits the egg under the skin, causing a tumour to rise the size of an hazel nut, some larger—it soon bursts, leaving a hole on the top, for the grub or worm, which now lives and feeds on the fatty matter.

Remedy:—Squeeze out the worm or grub, by pressing firmly, if this cannot be accomplished, open it with a lancet or knife, and put in a few drops spirits turpentine, a few times which will destroy the grub.

RABIES OR HYDROPHOBIA.

This is a dreadful Disease, produced by the bite of a rabid or mad dog. The symptoms of its approach are dullness, loss of appetite, the eyes protruding and red; is continually voiding urine or dunging, saliva drivels from his mouth: presently weakness of the loins, and staggering appear; sometimes they linger six or seven days, and die. There is no cure.

Remedy:—Destroy the animal as soon as possible. Care should be taken that the saliva is not received on a wound; any wound which it has fallen on, should be immediately well burned with lunar caustic. Should you see the rabid dog bite your animal, and find the spot, immediately burn the wound well with the lunar caustic, there is a possibility of their escape. The hair should be clipped off, and every scratch carefully touched with the caustic.

FOR YOUNG CALVES.

Should the mother’s milk not be sufficient to operate upon the bowels, or not at all, give 1 or 2 ounces Epsom salts, according to the size: dissolve in ½ pint gruel, add a little ginger, and a few drops peppermint, or as you may give Castor oil; if it should be an obstinate case, give an injection or two of salts dissolved in water, and a little castor oil, this will set all right.

COW POWDERS.

This is an excellent powder for general derangements of the System. Such as falling off of the milk, dullness, stupidness, staring of the hair, &c.

This powder is truly astonishing in its effects on cattle, giving new life and vigor to the animal. No owner of cattle should do without this powder, and should adopt the rule to feed all his cattle, some of the powder, once or twice a year, and especially before commencing to fatten them. This powder is equally as good for Sheep. Take

Pulverize these articles fine and mix well, and it is ready for use. Any of the above articles can be had at any Drug Store.

Directions for Use:—Dose for a full grown animal, one tablespoonful once or twice a day, as the case may require.

This powder cannot be excelled, it is an excellent medicine for all derangements of the system, it is perfectly harmless, and should be fed sometime in all chronic and lingering diseases, or at least until entirely relieved, and the system put in perfect health. No animal can thrive unless in health. Therefore every farmer should adopt the rule to feed all his stock, and especially those which he wishes to fatten with some of these powders; by so doing you will save feed and time. In fattening, feed on offal.

Directions:—For a full grown sheep, dose, 1 teaspoonful once or twice a day, as the necessity of the case may require. Feed on offal.