Part 2

About two weeks before calving, the cow should have, in addition to her ordinary food, a half pint of rye, evening and morning, as that is a sure means of taking the cleaning right after the delivery of the calf. Should this be neglected, she should be slopped with two quarts of wheat bran and half a teacupful of flaxseed, twice a day. If the cleaning does not come off on the third day, it should be twisted back of the cow’s shape, until it becomes a solid cord, when a small knife enclosed in the hand should be introduced into the womb, and the cord cut off about fifteen inches from the entrance. This is about all that will incommode the cow; the other will pass off about the ninth day, and the cow will be all right. Should the cow have inflammation in the udder, or any other place, she should be drenched with one lb. of Epsom Salts. The horns should be examined, and if they are sometimes warm and then cold again, a hole should be bored through them, about two inches from the head, and the back of the cow should be fomented with very strong salt-water; the tail should be slit on both sides about an inch and a half. In extreme cases a charge should be boiled, and spread on the loins, consisting of

1 pint of tar, 2 oz. Rosin, 2 oz. Beeswax.

After the charge is spread on, it should be covered with tow or wool.

Calves will sometimes, on account of the cow’s milk being burned, have a severe Diarrhea. When this is the case they should be drenched with milk from the cow, containing one large tablespoonful of wheat flour, and half a teaspoonful of ginger. Should this not be sufficient, opium may be added to it the size of two grains of wheat.

CLAP OR POX.

On the 7th day of June, 1853, a Stallion was brought under my observation, owned by Christian Kerr, of Centre township, then Union county, which had ten distinct ulcers on his penis, varying in size from a pea to a dime. These ulcers were accompanied with a discharge, sometimes bloody, emitting a very disagreeable odor, that was perceptible at a distance of three or four rods. The attendant of this horse, noticed these ulcers about five days previous to the time I was consulted, when the marks were very small. He remarked to me, that “people declined to allow his horse to cover their mares, stating, that he was diseased with the pox.” And I actually found this to be the case. I dressed the horse, and sent him away.

That night I examined all the works veterinary Science that I could command, and found but a single one that made the least mention of the disease, but giving neither the cause or treatment of it.

In less than a week, I had over twenty mares to attend, that were affected by the horse.

I treated the horse and mares according to the best of my judgment, having first obtained the advice of an eminent human Physician, and I soon became perfect master of the disease, and saved all but two mares that were placed under my care. I found, that where the disease had taken deep root and entered the system, every effort to save the animal was in vain, and hence, I am satisfied, that where the disease has been suffered to go unchecked, until it became so deeply rooted as to vitiate the whole system, it is incurable.

CAUSE.

Mares will sometime get in season early in the spring, when they will discharge a thin, whitish fluid, resembling bluish milk, of a glutinous nature, but very clean. If the mare does not become pregnant until the latter part of May or the beginning of June, this fluid will change into a mattery state, and will affect the parts in the region of the womb to such an extent as to cause rawness and inflammation.

A mare, that is in a condition as described above, is very apt to communicate to the horse covering her, the disease of Gonorrhœa, or Clap, especially if such horse be permitted to cover from five, twelve and fifteen mares a day, where another horse, covering only once every few days will escape unharmed. The reason of this is evident; the penis of the one covering so many mares, becomes very tender and almost transparent, so as almost to cause the blood to shine through it.

Another instance in which a horse is apt to become diseased, is, when he is suffered to cover a mare on the ninth day after she has undergone the process of foaling. At this period there is still a discharge of bloody matter, which is very apt to generate clap in an animal of the opposite sex.

DESCRIPTION OF DISEASE.

Sometimes there will appear on the penis of the Stallion, small white blotches, on the surface of the skin, from the size of a pin’s head to that of a grain of wheat, which, on the following day will be double in size. On the third or fourth day, a pea might be set in the ulcers, which will emit an offensive odor, and which will spread with great rapidity.

In the mare blotches will appear on the shape, of a deep red color, apparently eaten through the surface of the skin, which will enlarge very rapidly. In a day or two, small tumors will appear, extending from the shape in a downward direction to the hams. These tumors are of different sizes, varying from that of a pea to that of a half gallon crock. They are of a very virulent nature, very often causing a painful rawness in the entrance to the womb, and extending from one to one and a half inches.

TREATMENT.

The Stallion should be brought out to a fence, and a mare should be placed on the other side of the fence, distant about one rod. This will cause the Stallion to present his penis. A clean crock should be in readiness, containing two ounces of chloride of lime, and two quarts of lukewarm water. There should also be on hand a teacup, containing a stem of nitrate of silver one fourth of an inch in length, which should be pulverized and dissolved in tablespoonful of water. Another teacup should be at hand, containing one teaspoonful of tincture of myrrh.

In the crock there should be a sponge the size of an ordinary apple, with a small stick tied to it. Each of the cups should be provided with a small pencil, made of soft muslin, about the size of a quill.

The operator should now draw on a pair of leather gloves, and seize the penis at the point with the left hand, and with the right hand, take the sponge and wash off the whole penis, from one end to the other. Then stir up the cup containing the nitrate of silver, take the pencil and anoint all the spots or marks on the penis; then follow with the tincture of myrrh.

This operation should be accomplished in less than fifteen minutes, and the application should be made twice a day.

The mare should be brought out with a blind bridle and collar on, and tied with the head to a post. The tail should be doubled up and a rope looped around it, and it should be drawn on the back and the rope tied to the collar. Then the whole shape should be washed off with the solution of chloride of lime; then anoint the marks with the nitrate of silver, and also with the tincture of myrrh. At each operation these preparations should be introduced about one and half inches within the shape.

Should any tumors have made their appearance, they must be dressed in the same manner. If they are large and soft, they should be cut open and then dressed in the same way.

The foregoing disease has sometimes reappeared in other animals for four years following my treatment of the above cases but by always bringing them promptly to my notice, I succeeded invariably in checking it, so that it never came to the same state as before.

COSTIVENESS IN COLTS.

Sometimes colts which are foaled early in the Spring, owing to the dry food of the mare, will become so costive, that they will inevitably die, if not relieved. As a general thing, this costiveness is confined to the rectum.

To relieve the colt, it should be drenched with half a teacupful of milk from the mare, which should contain Barbadoes Aloes, the size of a grain of corn, pulverized, and about an equal amount of ginger, every six hours; at the same time an injection should be prepared, as follows: take one quart of wheat bran, and pour on it three quarts of boiling water. When cold draw off the liquid, add one teacupful of sweet milk, half a teacupful of molasses. Then by means of a syringe inject this composition into the rectum. Or, if a syringe cannot be procured, a bladder with a clean piece of elder tied in the neck of it may be introduced into the rectum. In a few minutes after, a finger should be inserted in the rectum, when a small ball of excrement may be taken out, about the size of a hickory-nut. I have often taken out twelve and fourteen such balls in the course of twenty minutes. After this no more medicine is needed.

DIARRHŒA.

Sometimes, the mare being fed too strong on rye chop feed, corn, or mow-burned oats, or being overworked, the milk gets too strong, causing a very severe diarrhœa in the colt. This will so much exhaust the colt, that it will die in a week or two.

TREATMENT.--If occasioned by feeding rye chop, or any of the above named causes, discontinue the use of them, and substitute good oats and hay, and give the colt, in half a teacupful of milk from the mare:

One tablespoonful of wheat flour, Opium, the size of two grains of wheat, Ginger, half a teaspoonful,

every six hours, until it will sere. Should the colt have pain, which will be exhibited by lying down and attempting to roll on its back, and groaning incessantly, the treatment should be changed. Take half a teacupful of milk from the mare,

One large teaspoonful of laudanum, ” ” ” sweet spirits nitre, ” ” ” spirits turpentine,

every three hours, until relief is obtained.

Or, boil very strong mint tea, and give two large tablespoonfuls every hour until relieved.

FEEBLE COLTS.

Sometimes colts are very feeble when foaled. The cause may be attributed to the atmosphere, or rather to an epidemic peculiar to some localities. Many are brought forth so weak, that they are not able to rise without assistance. A constant dropping of water from the navel may be perceivable, and the colt becomes so much enfeebled that death will shortly ensue.

CAUSE.

Sometimes after death, on examination, the liver was found to be decayed; at other times the kidneys. Sometimes a blister will be found on one side of the lungs, the size of a hen’s egg, and as clear as crystal, and filled with a fluid. At other times it is nothing but a general debility of the system.

TREATMENT.

The colt should be drenched with half a teacupful of milk from the mare, which should contain,

½ teaspoonful of Ginger, 1 tablespoonful of the best grape wine.

A charge should be spread on the loins which should consist of

½ lb. of Tar, 1 oz. of Rosin, 1 oz. of Beeswax,

boiled into pitch, the whole covered with tow or wool, and the colt should be well attended to. They will sometimes recover in a few days.

One came under my observation, that recovered after five weeks, and was sold for an extra price four years afterwards.

CURE OF WOUNDS.

Horses are sometimes exposed to much danger, and will sometimes receive the most extraordinary wounds. For the last ten years I have used very little else, than a solution of the chloride of Lime. It is a sure means of keeping out cold and inflammation.

First clean the wound from all filthy matter, and bring it into a healthy state, and in this manner nature will heal it as soon as the best ointment in the world.

Take chloride of Lime, 2 oz., dissolve it in 2 quarts of lukewarm water. Then wash out the wound once a day. If it is deep and runs, a syringe should be at hand in order to force the composition to every part of it in the inside. Should proud flesh spring up at the entrance of the wound, pulverized blue vitriol should be applied. In twenty-four hours after the application, you can rub off from one fourth to one half inch. Apply it again, until it gets below the surface of the skin, then apply a little tincture of myrrh.

HINTS ABOUT FATTENING HOGS.

Give your hogs an abundance of charcoal. If any should be foundered, take 2 ounces of Nitre, (salt-peter,) 1 ounce of Barbadoes Aloes, pulverize it very fine, and give the one fourth part of it every six hours.

HINTS ABOUT SHEEP.

Keep your sheep out of clover pasture. Scant blue grass is the pasture for sheep. Salt once a week. Raise the floor of your fold from four to six feet above the ground, board it only on three sides, and simply lath it on the south side, and your sheep will be healthy and without distemper.

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ERRATA.--On page eleven, in the fifth line, instead of “entrance,” read “whole.”

FINIS.