ON THE DISEASES OF HORNED CATTLE.
Inflammation:—Inflammation is the most frequent diseased condition to which neat Cattle are subject. External inflammation is known by the part being swollen, tender and hotter, than in its natural state; in garget or downfall of the udder, which is an inflammation of one or more quarters of the bag; the affected parts are swollen, tender and hot. If this state of the bag is neglected, matter or pus will be formed, and make a troublesome job, this should not be neglected or deferred; if it is properly treated, the swelling heat and tenderness will generally disappear.
INTERNAL INFLAMMATION.
Internal Inflammation by other and often more indistinct symptoms. We can here seldom ascertain the heat or tenderness, or swelling of the part, and can usually only judge of the complaint, by the effects which it produces on the system. Every internal inflammation soon affects the whole system, accompanied with considerable fever, and that fever and degree of it is easily ascertained by the heat of the breath, and the mouth, and the base of the horn, by the redness of the eye, hardness of the pulse and the loss of appetite. When Inflammation seizes any important organ, as the brain, lungs, bowels, kidneys, udder, &c., bleeding is to be immediately had recourse to, after bleeding, a purging drink is to be administered, sometimes it is necessary to insert a seton in the dew lap. For external inflammation from severe bruises, wounds and other accidents, fomentations with warm or cold water. Poultices made of Linseed Oil, when they can be applied.
BLEEDING, ITS UTILITY.
Bleeding is a most useful and powerful remedy, in the cure of Inflammatory Complaints. It lessens the quantity of blood in the vessels, and diminishes nervous power. The following are the chief diseases, in which bleeding is required.
In all kinds of fever, itching and humors of the skin, enlarged glands, or kernels between the jaws, bruises, strains, catarrh or colds, &c.
The jugular or neck vein, is that which is mostly opened; in many inflammatory complaints too much can hardly be taken, provided the bleeding be stopped as soon as the patient appears likely to faint or fall down. A strong healthy Beast will bear the loss of five-six quarts of blood without the least injury; large Cattle will bear seven or eight quarts with decided advantage.
ON PHYSIC.
The chief purgative Medicines for neat Cattle are Glauber Salts, Epsom Salts, Barbadoes aloes, Linseed Oil and Sulphur. In some extreme cases the Croton Nut, freshly prepared may be used with decided advantage. Aloes are getting into disuse, on account of it nauseating and exciting the Animal; if it does not operate immediately, half an ounce of aloes may be added to the salts with decided advantage. In particular diseases where there is considerable fever, or the attack of fever is apprehended, there is no purgative so beneficial as the Epsom Salts; in bad cases twenty four ounces may be given at a dose, and eight ounces of sulphur every six hours, until the purgative effect is produced. Linseed Oil is a good purgative, the dose is from a pint to a pint and a half. Common Salt is a very good purgative in mild cases, a pound dissolved in warm water is a dose; it should not be given when the animal labors with fever.
ON SETONING.
The utility of setoning is to create excitement and unload the overloaded vessels in neighboring inflamed parts. The mode of inserting a seton, it is commonly made of horse hair platted together, cord or tape alone or leather, it should be tolerable thick and ten or twelve inches in length. Before inserting the seton it should be dipped or saturated with Turpentine, tincture of Cantharides, or Helebore. The seton now prepared; an assistant is to hold the animal, while the seton needle with the cord affixed to it is plunged into the upper edge of the brisket or dew lap, and brought out again towards its lower edge. The space between the two openings should be from four to eight inches; the seton is to be secured by fastening a small piece of wood, or tying a large knot at either end of the cord; matter will begin to run the second day, and after that the cord should be drawn backwards and forwards two or three times a day, in order to irritate the parts, by this means increase the discharge. Where a considerable effect is intended to be produced, the black helebore is the best, this will very quickly cause considerable swelling, as well as a discharge.
COLDS AND COUGHS.
Colds or Coughs are frequently much neglected, and very much injures the animal, let this hint suffice, as soon as you perceive the animal to have the cough, give a purging drink. Take epsom salts 1 lb., powdered caraway seeds ½ oz., dissolve in a quart of warm gruel. After that use the cough and fever drink until relieved twice a day.
Cough and fever medicine.—Take emetic tartar 1 oz., powdered digitalis ½ drachm, saltpetre 3 drachms, mix and give in a quart of gruel; house the beast and keep it comfortable, especially at night, do not expose to cold and wet weather.
If the above should not give relief: Take emetic tartar half drachm, nitre two drachms, powdered gentian root one drachm, powdered chamomile flowers one drachm and powder ginger half drachm. Pour upon them a pint of boiling ale, and give the infusion, when nearly cold; give until relieved. Should not this entirely relieve—take liquorice root 2 oz; bruise and boil in a quart of water, until the fluid is reduced to a pint, then add two drachms powdered squills, honey 2 ounces; add to the above and give as directed in the above.