Disease, Both General and Local.
—Some diseases lead to disturbance throughout the entire body. For instance, pus may accumulate at some point from which it finds its way into the blood, in the end reaching to other parts of the body that in time also become affected.
Those diseases, with which fever is associated, are general in nature. The nerve centers are influenced, the body heat is increased and a weakened condition prevails. Back of this are the disease poisons—chemical poisons or germ poisons.
When the temperature of the body, as a result of fever, rises too high certain life principles are changed and death immediately follows. A temperature of 106° or 107° is very high, and, therefore, very dangerous. In treating disease the temperature is watched, that the course of the fever may be followed. Treating a fever, then, is helpful and a natural part of the treatment of the disease itself. The basis of the curative process rests upon the principle of proper circulation and the excretion of the impure substances.
CAUSES OF DISEASE
In the first place most diseases arise from mismanagement. The very principles at the bottom of good health receive no consideration and little thought. On some farms it is seldom that a case of disease is heard of; on others, stock are under treatment at all times. Where order prevails, where cleanliness is appreciated, where disease-producing conditions are never allowed to accumulate or even gain an introduction, health is the rule and disease the exception. When the latter appears, it is due to some outside influence that gave it admission.
The greatest mischief in handling farm stock comes from improper food, filthy or impure drinking water, bad ventilation of stables, overwork, or lack of exercise and poor sanitary conditions.
Disease, therefore, is largely due to causes within control of the owner of the farm stock. True, one source of trouble is due to mechanical causes: horses get nail punctures, legs and necks and head are cut in fences, blows bring bruises. But whose fault? Certainly not the animal. Old boards with nails ought not to be left in all sorts of places, fences should be protected, and stable fixtures, gates and harnesses should be in such order that only in rare cases will injury result.
Disease from Chemical Causes.
—Poisonous materials and poisonous plants cause death to thousands of animals annually. Of great importance to the stock interests is the rapid destruction of these harmful products. Fortunately in the older sections these are about eliminated now, and we are also understanding more about the molds that lead to bad results when moldy forage is given as feed to farm animals. In time disease will be considerably lessened when only clean, wholesome food finds its way into the mangers and feed racks—then disease will depart and more rapid gains will come.