COMPLETE CATTLE KEEPER; FARMER'S AND GRAZIER's GUIDE . IK rag . ; ' .. CHOICE iND GENERAL MANAGEMENT ! ■«T- Neat Cattle Sheep. ■ . ' WTTIf . ' THE DISEASES TO WHICH THEY ARE SUBJECT THE SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIES. BY B. f.AYl'REKCE. m IP m '8 LONDON; PUBLISHED DY DEAN AND MUNDAY, TTRivAONEEDLE-STREET. SB, 111 if! 11 PERKINS AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE SOUTHAMPTON THE COMPLETE CATTLE-KEEPER, OK, FARMER'S AND GRAZIER's GUIDE IN THE CHOICE AND MANAGEMENT '4,, '< . ;" ( ;> * . s ' of * *■ y ^v&db * ' NEAT CATTLE AND SHEEP; INCLUDING, USEFUL OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE VARIOUS BREEDS; AND ON THE INJURIOUS EFFECTS RESULTING FROM IMPROPER FOOD AND IMPURE WATER. HINTS TO DAIRYMEN, ON THE BEST CONSTRUCTION OF THE COW-HOUSE, OR STABLE; AND ON THE MANAGEMENT OF MILCH COWS : A DESCRIPTION' OP THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF NEAT CATTLE, AND OF THEIR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, THE DISEASES TO WHICH CATTLE ARE SUBJECT, IN WHICH THE CAUSES ARE POINTED OUT, THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED, AND APPROVED METHODS OF CURE GIVEN. THE PROPER TREATMENT OF CALVES AND LAMBS; AND EVERY OTHER NECESSARY INFORMATION. K II BELLISHED WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIVE APPROPRIATE ENGRAYINCS. BY B. LAWRENCE. HON©©]*!": PUBLISHED BY DEAN AND MDNDAY, THREA.DNEEDLE- STREET. Price Four Shillings, extra Boards. CONTENTS. Abortion, causes of, and prevention . . 102 120 121 Appendix ' .'.325 Bleeding, remarks on . . . . . , _ 323 Probang, remarks on the . . . . . . 330 instructions for using the . . . . 331 Rowel, to set a . . . . . . . . _ 327 Seton, to set a . . . . . . . _ 325 Setoning, a prevention of disease . . . . 326' Sheep, to protect from snow, &c. . , . . 334 to construct sheltering-places for . . ' 335 Bleeding, the veins described and illustrated . . . . 329 Butter, effect of soil upon the quality of . . . . . . 23 Bulling, inordinate desire for, how prevented .. ..122 Bruises, external, remedies for . . . . . . .; 243 Cattle, proportion of land allotted to .. .. .. 31 Canilla, description and use of . . . . . , . , 333 Calves, directions for the management of . . . . 123 diseases to which subject, their causes, symp- toms, and cure .. .. .. ,, 131 149 dry lodging, and cleanliness essential to . . 128, 129 treatment of by the cow when first born ' . . 123 in summer and winter . . . . 126' for rearing .. .. .. 127 to open and cleanse the bowels of . . • . . 125 Calving, management of the cow at the period of 98 symptoms of, and treatment in 103 ' natural presentation of the calf . . .. ., 103 assistance in, when necessary . . . . . . 104 management of the cow, at delivery . . . . 105 after-birth, and cleansing, cautions relative to 106 heating drenches, injurious . . . . 105, 109 wrong presentation, what aid then required . . 112 assistance and medicines, when necessary .. 110 naval-string, treatment of .. .. ..117 falling-down of the calf-bed llfj- swelled udder, how prevented . . . . . . 149 abortion, or slipping of the calf, causes of 102; 120 ■ prevention of .. .. .. J21 Cow, annual produce from . . .. .. 13 profitable in all respects . . . . . . . . 14 at what age best adapted for the pail . . . . 21 4 CONTENTS. Cow, sudden change of food injurious to . . 22 proper treatment and food of . . . . . .' 23 treatment of, when brought from a distance .' . 25 injurious effects of forcing milk in 35 over-feeding, cause of difficult labour, and death 38 summer treatment and food . . . . . . 43 71 a liberal supply of food essential . . . . 43' qq instance and injury of contrary practice . . 56,' 66 injurious effects of heated green food, or husks of grain .. .. 47 stinging of flies, and heat, injurious . . . . 53 gentle exercise, essential , , 53 confinement injurious . . . . . . 73 common food, how to be assisted . . . . 4.4 winter feeding and treatment . . . . * .' - 75 exposure to damp cold nights injurious . . . . 81 dry lodging, essential . . . . . , . . 81 cleanliness, a main source of health . . . . 82 Continental practice in this respect . . . . 82 internal structure, described digestive process in, explained udder, explained and described heat in, symptoms of over-breeding, injurious to . . treatment, while pregnant Cow-house, or stable, remarks on necessity of cleanliness in Dutch and Flemish construction of . . ' . .' 28 best construction of, illustrated by descrip- tive engravings . . . . . . ..33 closeness of, injurious . . . . . . 32 Cabbages and carrots, useful for occasional food . . 76 Cattle, proportion of land allotted in Holland to . . 31 Cheese, effect of soil upon the quality of . . . . . . 2,3 Cobbett's mode of keeping a cow on the produce of a quarter of an acre of land . . 86 raising cabbages for food . . . . 87 turnips for ditto . . . . 89 Dairy, choice of cows for . . . . . . . . . . 20 Alderney and Durham breeds, comparative utility of . . . . . . • . , . '. _ _ 20 general treatment of cows in . . . . ..22 Dairyman, hints to, in his management of milch cows . . 64 Digesting-place for cattle, a prevention of disease . . 51 Digestive system of neat cattle, described and explained 150 .. 150 .. 153 .. 155 .. 100 .. 100 .. 101 26—32 27, 33, 82 CONTENTS. 5 Diseases to which calves are subject; with the causes, symptoms, and cure . . . , . . . . 131 Canker in the mouth . . . . . , ... 145 Cords . . . . . . . . 132 Costiveness .. .. .. .. . 234 Diarrham, or dysentary 136 Hoose, or Cough . . . . . . . . . . 143 Inflammatory disorders . . . . . . . . 147 prevention of, observations on the 148 Disorders to which neat cattle are subject, with observa- tions on their general nature . . . . 157 predisposition to, causes of 159 prevention, remarks on . . . . . . . . 158 Diseases which result from Indigestion ; with their symp- toms, causes, and remedies . . . . . . 160 Atrophy, or Consumption . . . . . . . . 184 Bloody Flux .. .. .. .. .. 170 Chronic Indigestion .. .. .. .. .. 16'4 Clue-bound .. .. .. .. .. ..180 Diarrhoea, or Looseness . . . . . . . . ig7 Dysentary, or slimy flux .. .. .. ..170 Fardel bound, or pantas 180 Flatulent cholic, or gripes 181 Jaundice .. .. .. .. . . mo Lethargy !7 3 Loss of the cud . . . . . . . . . . 1 7f> Moor-ill .. .. .. .. 175 Paralysis of the stomach 173 Scoui-ing rot . . . . . . . . ' . . ..'180 Stranguary, or stoppage of water 182 Staggers, or Vertigo . . . . . . . 173 Swimming of the head .. .. .. ..173 Urine, retention of . . . . . . . . . . 182 Wood-ill, or evil .. .. .. .. .. 173 Yellows .. .. .. .. . jgQ Diseases which arise from over feeding — Blown, or blast .. .. .. .. .. 137 Choking .. s<„ ... . . jgn Fog sickness .. .. .. .. .. .. 190 Hoven .... . . . . 187 Meadow sickness .. .. .. ,. ..192 Precautions by observing which, most diseases resulting from overfeeding, may be prevented 193 Diseases which proceed from repletion of blood Abscess of the Udder . . . . 202 a 3 6 CONTENTS. Page Blain, with swelling . . . . . . . . . • 204 Black water 195 Downfal of the udder . . . . . . . • 198 Fever, with swelling . . . . . • • ■ 204 Inflammation of the udder . . . . . . . . 198 womb . . . . . . 206 Milk, or puerperal fever . . . . . . ■ . 206 Murrain, or pestilential fever . . . . . . 211 common fever . . . . . . 216 After-treatment, or eradication of disease . . 217 Sore udders .. .. .. .. .. •■ 198 SsSV.V. Red water .. ..y .. ..*195. **•'*• Udder-ill .. .;. . 198 Disorders, inflammatory — Black leg, or black quarter . . . . . . 239 Catarrh, or cold . . . . . . . • • • 223 Cancer of the eye . . . . . ■ ' . • • • 238 Distemper, or Influenza . . . . . . ■ • 223 Epidemic fever . . . . • • - ■ • • 223 Fellon i • ■ . . 223 Inflammation of the brain 218 bowels .. .. ..231 heart . . kidneys liver lungs . . milt shape . . spleen . . stomach womb . . Mad staggers Phrenzy . . Pleurisy . . Peripneumony Quarter-ill Shoot of blood . ; Diseases, external, wounds, and bruises Angle-berries, or worts Bruises Chronic rheumatism Chine-fellon Cancerous ulcers Foul in the foot . . £.01 .. 228 .. 230 .. 233 .. 220 ... 234 .. 235 .. 234 .. 220 .. 235 .. 218 .. 218 .. 220 .. 220 .. 239 .. 239 .. 258 .. 249 .. 243 .. 243 .. 255 .. 250 CONTENTS. 7 _ . ■ ' *^Bmb Joint fellon . . . . . . . . . . . . 243 Joint Yellows . . . . . . . . . . 244 Locked Jaw . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 Lice in cattle . . . . . . . . . . 260 Mange . . i . . . . . . . . . 252 Sore teats . . . . ' . . . . 259 Strains . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Tail rot . . . . 244 Warbles, worms, &c. ... . . . . . . 254 R^' ♦ Wounds .. ..' .. 247 Diseases, Miscellaneous — ■ Bull-burnt . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Bites of venomous reptiles . . - . . . . . . 262 Cow pock ; .. .. . . ,. : .. '266 Poisons .. .. .. .. ; x' :-. . 261 Disease, concluding remarks on . . . . . . 270 Diseases to which lambs are subject, with their causes, symptoms, and remedies . . . . . . . . 280 Costiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . 285 Diarrhoea, or excessive looseness . . . . ; . . 281 Staggers . . . . . . . . 285 Diseases to which sheep are subject: with their causes, symptoms, and remedies . . . . . . . . 287 predisposing and exciting causes of .. ... 287 prevention of . . . . . . . . . . 287 Blindness .. .. .. .. .. .. 319 Blast, or bursting . . . . . . .... 294 Catarrh, or cold .. .. -.. .. .. 296 Debility, and indigestion . . . . . . . . 321 Diarrhoea, or scouring . . . . . . . . 322 Diseased eyes .. .. .. .. .. 319 Foot halt . . . . 316 Foot rot . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Fly, to prevent . . . . . . . . . . 310 Giddiness . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Goggles 297 Gargut, resp, or blood . . . . . . . . 290 Hydrocephalus . . . . . . . . . . 292 Inflammation . . . . ' . . . . . . . . 322 of the udder 323 Lice, or tick, to prevent . . . . . . . . 309 Maggots: .. •' '-ii. ■'. 314 Red water . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 Rot 300 Scab, or ray . . . . . . . . . . . . 306 8 CONTENTS. Page Sore heads •' . . . . . . . . . . 312 Yellows 298 Wounds .. . ...... .. 318 Fodder, best situation of stores for . . . . 33 general remarks on . . . . . . 36 Food most conducive to increase of milk . . . . 37 improper, a cause of difficult labour . . . . 38 mangel-wurzel, effects of feeding upon . . 39, 40 produce from two cows, fed on ditto and hay . . 41 consequence of over-feeding upon . . . . 42 different kinds of, described . . . . . . 45 substitutes for, in times of scarcity . . . . 45, 47 observations on roots, when given for food . . 46 steamed, preferred on the continent . . . . 47 green,' and heated, injurious .. .. 47, 48 steamed straw, an excellent substitute for . . . . 47 potatoes, ditto ditto . . . . 48 green, best period for cutting . . . . . . 52 dry, and mouldy or dusty, injurious . . . . 54 occasional substitutes for . . . . . . 55 valuable substitute in time of scarcity . . . . 57 summer feeding, remarks on . . . . 71 winter ditto, ditto 75 Garden produce, useful for feeding cattle . . . . 72 General observations on neat cattle . . . . . . 13 Grass, artificial kind, why productive of disease . . 49 second crop of, preferable . . . . . . 54 when most fit for cutting . . . . . . 52 fresh springing productive of mUk . . . . 54 economical management of . . . . 71 Grain, its effects on the animal system 70 bruised, useful to pregnant cows . . . . . . 102 Harley's (Mr.) dairy at Glasgow 14 Heifers, at what age fit for breeding 99 Lambing season, observations on the . . . . . . 275 fold-yard, essential in . . . . ' . . . . 276 treatment of the ewe in . . . . . . . . 276 injury from delivery, remedy for . . . . 278 Lambs, diseases to which they are subject . . . . 280 Manure, Dutch method of economising 28 Milch cows, in and about London . . . . . . 76 general mode of keeping ditto . . . . 77 Islington cow-keepers' practice described 79 injurious effects of damp air on . . . . 81 proper periods for milking . . . . 83 CONTENTS. 9 ' ' Page Milch-cow, to dry of her milk .. .. ., .. 267 Neat cattle, general observations on . . . . . . 13 uses to which their various parts are applied 15 for stock, of the choice of .. .. .. 16 soundness of issue on what de- pendent . . . . . . 17 their age, how found by the teeth 18 horns 19 proper treatment and food of . . 23 exercise essential to the health of . . . . 24 unlimited quantity of food injurious to . . 24 how inured to a change of food . . . . 25 necessity of dressing and cleaning of 34 subject to blast, or hoven, from what cause 49 proneness to overfeeding in . . 49 should not feed on grass while dew is on it 52 internal structure of, described .. .. 150 disorders to which they are subject; with their causes, symptoms, and methods of v cure .. .. ... .. .. 157 Oats, why injurious, and when they may be given with advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 particularly useful to pregnant cows . . . . 102 singular instance of the effects of unbruised oats 67 recipe for the cure of the disease produced thereby 68 Oil-cake, bad eiFects of feeding on . . . . 76 Potatoes, steamed, an excellent article for cattle feed . . 48 effects of, when improperly given . . . . 76 Probang, general utility of . . . . . . . . 330 description and use of .. .. .. ..331 plate of explanation, description of . . . . 332 Recipe No. 1, opening drench, for cows .. .. .. 68 2, restorative drink, ditto .. .. ..116 3, strengthening do. ditto .. .. .. 119 4, purging do. ditto . . . . . . 121 5, strengthening do. ditto .. .. .. 122 6, ditto do. ditto 123 7, cleansing mixture, for a young calf . . 125 8, solution of potash, to make .. .. 133 9, opening draught for a young calf . . . . 134 10, cordial drink, for a calf .. .. .. 134 11, astringent do. ditto .. .. .. 137 12, ditto do. ditto 137 13, ditto do. ditto .. .. .. 137 14, ditto do. ditto .. .. .. 138 10 CONTENTS. Page 15, astringent drmk, for a calf . 138 16, purgative drink ditto . . . . . . 139 clyster for a calf . 140 purgative drench ditto . 141 IS, opening do. ditto .. . 142 19, cordial drink ditto . 142 20, cough ball ditto . 144 21, purgative drink ditto . 145 22, opening drench ditto . 145 23, canker mixture ditto . 146 24, saline draught ditto . 147 25, opening clyster ditto . 148 26, opening drench for neat cattle . 163 anodyne carminitive tincture, to make . . 163 27, stomachic drink for neat cattle . . . 164 28, purgative draught ditto . 166 29, ditto do. ditto ; . . 166 30, clyster ditto . 167 31, opening drench ditto . 169 32, cordial do. ditto . 169 33, opening do. ditto . 172 34, astringent do. ditto . 173 35, opening do. ditto . 175 36, clyster ditto . . . 175 37, diuretic draught ditto . 176 38, opening drench ditto . 177 39, stomachic drink ditto . 179 40, ditto ditto • 179 41, restorative drink ditto . 181 42, opening ditto ditto . 183 42, gentle opening dittc ditto . 185 43, cordial drink ditto . 189 44, opening drench ditto . 191 45, ditto ditto . 193 46, ditto ditto . 193 47, saline drench ditto . 196 48, ditto ditto . 197 49, astringent hall ditto . 198 50, embrocation ditto . 201 51, ditto ditto . 201 52, purging drink ditto . 202 53, cooling ditto ditto . 206 54, clyster ditto . , . 208 55, cordial drink ditto . 209 Gruel, to make . 210 CONTENTS. Recipe No. 56, antiseptic drink for neat cattle Fumigating mixture, to make 57, purgative drench for neat cattle 58, ditto ditt0 59, cordial drink ditto CO, saline opening drench ditto CI, ditto G2, clyster 63, lotion 64, injection 65, eye lotion 66, eye ointment 67, saline draught 68, embrocation C9, ditto 70, digestive ointment ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto . o '~-»u*i In these cases it will be proper to support the calf when just out of the shape, and then tie the naval-string a few inches from the naval, with CATTLE-KEEPER. 117 a little thick twine, and to let the cleansing be subsequently expelled by the throes of the beast. We would advise the adoption of this plan in laborious parturition, where no manual force has been used. — For when a cow has once had this complaint, she is always liable, at any fu- ture period, either to slip her calf, or to a recur- rence of the accident. Cows that rise considerably on the small of the back, in the form of a curve, and begin to lower towards the tail, with the hip, rump, and sirloin for the most part straight, are the most liable to this complaint. Cows thus formed de- note great weakness in £hose parts; and, with- out great care and proper management at the time of calving, are almost sure of having this complaint. By observing the following rules, this may, generally, be prevented. The floor or pavement of the cow-house should be made level at the time of calving; and it will be greatly to the advantage of some cows, if they be placed so that they stand higher behind than before for a considerable time before calv- ing; as that position will enable them, when U8 THE COMPLETE down, to rise with more ease, and with less dan- ger of straining themselves. If the falling-down of the calf-bed be sus- pected, the cow ought to be carefully watched, particularly at the time of calving, and it should be prevented, as far as possible, by the mean* above- mentioned. Treatment. — As soon as the falling down of the calf-bed takes place, care should be taken to have in readiness a clean sheet well-aired, to put underneath and around the calf-bed, if she lay down; or to support it, if standing; and likewise to protect it from particles of dirt, or straw ad- hering to it, as also from^the effects of air. Then, if any portion of the cleansing adheres to the womb, it must be removed in the gentlest manner possible, lest you tear the calf-bed. Then bathe the exposed parts with diluted spirits of wine, or any kind of spirits will do, if they can be pro- cured almost immediately; if not, it will signify very little. — As soon as the parts have been bathed, endeavour to return them to their natural position by the method following : The calf-bed is to be raised, and the person who replaces it should clinch his hand, or have CATTLE-KEEPER. ]J9 1' a large sponge in it, and press gradually in the middle part of the womb, until it is returned into its proper situation. He must throw it forwards, as far as he can possibly reach, and turn his hand round to feel that it is properly •eplaced, and hold it there for some time; which will stimulate the womb to contract, and prevent it, in a great measure, from falling down again. When the calf-bed is properly replaced, the following strengthening drink may be given to the animal, to assist her, and remove those vio- lent after-pains, to which cattle in this state are particularly liable. RECIPE No. 3. Gentian, fresh powdered, 1 ounce; White ginger, ditto, 1 ounce; Aniseeds, ditto, 2 ounces; Solid opium, cut small, 1 dram; Treacle, 4 table spoonsful. Pour a quart of hot ale upon the ingredients, in a pitcher; and give it to the cow when new-milk- warm. This drink should be repeated once a day, or every other day, for two or three times, Warm 120 THE COMPLETE mashes, and proper management, must strictly be attended to. Abortion, or slipping of the calf Abortion, or slinking or slipping the calf, is a misfortune to which cows are particularly sub- ject, in the early periods of gestation; and occa- sions not only a serious loss to the owner, but produces a weakness in the cow herself, which is often injurious to her constitution to the latest period of her existence. Some few of the causes to which slipping the calf is generally attributable, have been already given; we shall add one. or two more, equally producive of this misfortune. Cows are most liable to slink their calves towards the latter end of the year, while feeding on fog, or autumnal grass, or on low marsh and fenny ground. In such situations, the air towards the end of a\i- tumn becomes too moist for the right perform- ance of the animal functions; the body in con- sequence becomes relaxed and debilitated, the perspiration diminished, and the blood watery, which frequently produce a preternatural deter- mination of blood to the calf-bed, that impairs CATTLE- KEEPER. 121 the healthy actions of that organ, and occasions abortion. It appears to originate, in these in- stances, from the same causes as the red water does; only in the one, the calf-bed is affected; in the other, the kidneys. At other times, it has proceeded from the smell of carrion, either exposed on the pasture, or buried too slightly in the earth. — The sense of smelling in horned cattle is remarkably acute; any very disagreeable scent annoys them sadly, and, if it be not removed, will produce abortion. Treatment. — Cows that are in danger of slip- ping their young, should be taken from the pasture or stable the over night, and from two to three or four quarts of blood should be taken from each beast, which, unless the weather be damp, ought to stand in the open yard, or open shed, till next morning: then give the following purging drink: RECIPE No. 4. Epsom salts, 1 pound ; Nitre. 2 ounces; Ginger and aniseeds, in powder, 1 ounce, each,-, Treacle, 4 ounces; Pour three pints of boiling water upon the ingredients,, and give when new-milk warm. 122 After it has operated, give her the following: RECIPE No. 5. Alum, in powder, 4 ounces; Nitre, 1 ounce; Grains of paradise, and aniseeds, fresh powdered, 1 ounce each ; Solid opium, cut small, \ a dram; Treacle, 4 tablespoonsful. Mix for one drink. Puc the drink in a pitcher, and pour a quart of boiling water on it; cover it down till new-milk warm, and then give it the beast. Repeat this in about eight or ten days, and there is little doubt of its producing the desired effect. Some cows are constantly a bulling every two or three weeks, during summer : a better drink cannot be given to put a stop to this than No. 2, and also to make her hold to the bull. It should be given to her about two hours after bulling: it strengthens and braces the parts of generation: if she be in good condition, let two quarts of blood be taken from her. If a cow should slip her calf, separate her immediately from the herd, or she may possibly affect them; and give her the following drink: CATTLE-KEEPER. 123 RECIPE No. 6. Spermaceti, 2 ounces; Spirits of turpentine, 1 ounce; The yolk of one egg: Beat them in a marble mortar till well incorporated; then add Grains of paradise, and ear- raway seeds, fresh powdered, 1 ounce, each ; Treacle, 4 ounces: Mix the whole in a quart of warm gruel, add a wine- glass full of gin, and give it new-milk warm. Repeat this drink every third day for about three times. ON THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG CALVES, AND THE TREATMENT OF COWS AFTER DELIVERY. Care should be taken that the cow, after the extraction of the calf, should have a suitable place to lie down in; and one that will also easily enable her to lick her calf, which not only the better excites her maternal feelings, but the 124 THE COMPLETE friction of her tongue puts the young animal in motion, and enables it to rise much sooner than it otherwise would. If she should shew any aversion to this action, which she should, and generally does, do very shortly after calving, it will be necessary to sprinkle on the calf a little salt, rubbed up with crumb of bread, or bran. It is a prejudice very generally entertained, that the first milk is injurious to the calf, on account of its supposed bad quality. This is acting contrary to nature, which has provided at first serous and yellowish milk, termed beestings, of a laxative or opening quality, in order to carry off from the stomach and bowels of the calf an injurious dark, viscid matter, termed meconium, which has collected in them while in the womb. It is therefore essential that the calf have instant and free access to the cow. If the calf does not readily take the teat, put it into its mouth: but do this gently and with great care. If, however, the first milk of the cow should not produce the desired evacuation from the bowels of the calf, recourse must be had to medicine; the following will be suitable for this ■purpose: CATTLE-KEEPER. 125 RECIPE No. 7. Castor oil 1 ounce; Prepared kali, \ a dram; Ginger, in powder, 1 tea spoonful; Mix, and give it in half a pint of warm milk. This drink may be repeated the next day., if the bowels are not sufficiently open. The diet and treatment of cows, at the time of calving, must be regulated according to the season of the year. It is, however, considered of consequence to the dairy, that cows should not drop their young too early in the season ; as when that happens, they fall off their milk in the autumn, when from its superior richness it is more valuable than at any other time. From the end of March to the end of April is considered the best time in the northern districts; as the cow soon gets into condition upon the early grass, and yields a greater quantity of milk in the course of the season than those that calve either much earlier or later; but in the southern parts, the advantage is found in calving much earlier. But as nature will not always be con- fined by any rule which man can lay down, he must act accordingly. 326 THE COMPLETE If it be in winter, or early in the spring, they should be housed as soon as possible; for new- born calves are particularly fearful of cold, and must be guarded from its intensity; not to the degree of confining them in close, hot stables, and injuring them by the reverse of too much heat. Warm water, and meshes of scalded bran, mixed with a little ground corn, should also be given to the cow, twice or three times a day. If the calving be in summer, the cow and calf require to be kept under a shade, where they can be protected from the sun in the day, from the cold in the evening, and from damps and fogs at all times ; and the cow must be treated with meshes and warm water, for two or three days, the same as in winter, but will not require so many of them. If the calf be intended for the butcher, it may be taken from the cow after about a week or ten days, and fed the remainder of the time by hand as hereafter directed; but this time of taking the calf away must he determined by the state of the cow's udder; for unless that be free from kernels and indurations, the calf must be allowed to suck, as the jolting of its head is the means of healing or restoring the udder, and. preventing the. down- CATTLE KEEPER. 127 fall, or inflammation in this part, -which might cause much trouble, and even endanger the life of the cow. But if the calf is intended to be reared, it should not be weaned until at least six weeks or even two months old, whether male or female. For such, there is no food like the cow's milk; and if she does not yield a sufficient quantity, that of another ought to be had recourse to. It is an incontrovertable fact, that the longer a calf sucks, not only the larger and stronger will it become, but it will also acquire a much better form, and more robust health. Calves which come early should be preferred for rearing. Those which come late, do not acquire sufficient strength to bear the cold of winter: they languish, and are reared with dif- ficulty. Calves should not be weaned too sud- denly, but by little and little. The less they are able to eat, the more they should be allowed to suck; or after awhile they may be brought to take it from the pail. This is done by placing the hand in the milk, with the palm upwards, and under the milk, while the fingers are raised above the surface of the milk for the calf, to lay 128 the complete hold of with its mouth, which it does very rea- dily, and sucks up the milk with great ease. When they are completely taken away, they should he fed with a little bran, and some of the best soft fragrant hay of the second crop ; they should be allowed plenty of the skimmed milk, and now and then a little water, in which barley has been boiled and broken up, or a little butter- milk, occasionally. There is at first some dif- ficulty in bringing them to drink, but a little perseverance will accustom them to it. Moderate warmth and dry lodging are of the utmost consequence to young calves; and if we would turn them to any good account, they must not be stinted either in these or in their food. Some persons feed calves that have been weaned, only twice or thrice a day : this is not enough : give less at a time, but more frequently; and take care that they have enough. In summer, skimmed milk, thickened with oat or wheatmeal; and in winter, carrots, or Swedish turnips, sliced, will make them excellent food, adding at all times a little good sweet hay. As soon soon as they are fit to follow the mo- ther, let them out; nothing does them more good than exercise, and there is nothing, per- CATTLE-KEEPER. 129 haps, more injurious than keeping them too long in a stable. Calves that acquire a habit of sucking them- selves, may be prevented by separating them. — : This is the only effectual method. — They some- times also contract a habit of licking themselves, and swallowing the hair, which forms balls in their stomach; and, being indigestible, are the cause of many serious diseases. — Of these habits they must be broken; or they will, in spite of the best care and keep, lose flesh, become covered with lice, and subject to worms, as well as to a disease similar to farcy. Calves cannot be kept too clean, or have fresh litter too often; for besides the evils already mentioned, if they are suffered to lie on their own dung and urine, they will become mangy, and scarcely ever thrive. — They are subject to several disorders, as the diarrhoea, or dysentary, costiveness, hoose, &c. but- these we shall de- scribe in their proper place. As a means, how- ever, of preventing the greater number of these diseases, we would advise the adoption of a few simple but useful rules. 130 1st. — Let the young calf suck the first milk. — This will cleanse its bowels, and prevent costiveness. 2nd. — Let it suck from the mother at least two months before it is weaned, and then wean it gradually. 3rd. — Let its first food be such as is easy of di- gestion, and let it have plenty of sweet skimmed milk and good hay. 4th. — Keep it very clean, well rubbing it occa- sionally with a whisp of hay or straw. 5th. — Keep its stable clean, and perfectly free from all impurities. 6th. — Let it have gentle exercise; the best will be in following the mother in the meadow or pasture. 7th. — Do not stint it, either in good food or good drink, and change its litter often enough to keep it clean, sweet, and dry. CATTLE-KEEPER. 131 DISEASES TO WHICH CALVES ARE SUBJECT. It is an observation founded on experience, that calves born in the open air, suffer much less from weakness or illness, than those that are kept, from the moment of their birth, in closely- confined barns, or sheds. Those brought up by hand are also much more delicate than those which are allowed to suck and follow their mo thers. Calves and lambs require exercise and fresh air; and where they are not restrained, nature directs them to take a great deal; and it is surprising to see how long a calf will run about, and with what vigour it plays and frisks, if left at liberty. Free, unconstrained, and plen- teous exercise, out of doors, evidently makes them thrive, and, indeed, seems essential to their very existence. Where the cow is much weakened in calving, or long in giving milk, or if the weather be cold, it will be necessary to warm a little before the fire m a pan until it is about blood warm, and then to give it in this state to the calf, a little at 132 THE COMPLETE a time ; about a pint and a half, four times in every twenty-four hours. If cold milk be given to a calf, it occasions a trembling; and the cords, or some other malady, inevitably succeed. Calves are subject to several disorders during the time of sucking, when weaning, or while they are fattening for the butcher. These dis- orders, or rather symptoms, have obtained dif- ferent names, as cords, diarrhoea, costiveness, &e. but they are really evidence of one disorder only — indigestion. I.— Cords. Cause. — Calves sometimes are of a sickly or weak constitution, and require care as to the quantity of milk they take at each time; for if they exceed a proper quantity, their stomachs become disordered; and the acid formed on the stomach for the purpose of effecting a change in the milk necessary to digestion and the formation of chyle, is increased in quantity, and altered in quality. In consequence of this, the milk, in- stead of being changed very gradually, is coagu- lated, and large indigestible curds are formed from it. This produces almost all the early dis- orders of calves. CATTLE -KEEPER. 133 Symptoms. — Extreme weakness, disrelish of food, sometimes accompanied with griping pains. When the disorder has arrived at a certain height, the muscles are affected with spasms, and drawn into cords, as it is termed; that is, they contract with violence, and feel hard and knotted in seve- ral parts. These cords frequently remain in the stomach a considerable time, and are sometimes so compressed, as to be absolutely formed into cheese, perfectly solid, and smelling like new cheese, a little sourish. Hence arises the obsti- nate costiveness. Flatulency now takes place, the calf becomes blown up, and affected with flatulent colic. This, if not checked, resolves into confirmed diarrhoea, and terminates in in- flammation, from which death generally ensues. Cure. — First attack the morbid acidity in the stomach. This is to be done by the following medicine: RECIPE No. 8. Unslaked lime, a piece the size of a pigeon's egg; Water, sufficient io slake it; Boiling water, one pint; Subcarbonate of potash, (salt of tartar,) two ounces : M 134 THE COMPLETE Put the lime into a jug with a cover, pour cold water on it; when slaked add the boiling water, stir it up, and cover it up close. Into an eight ounce (or half-pint) bottle, put the subcarbonate of potash, and fill it up with the lime- water, having first shaken the jug so that it may be a little thick. Keep the bottle well corked, and mark it " Solution of Potash." This is the best thing that can be given for correcting the acidity of the stomach. Let it be administered in the following manner: RECIPE No. 9. Solution of potash (as above) two teaspoonsful; Epsom salts, two ounces; Thin gruel, or warm water, half a pint. Dissolve the salts in the gruel, or water; add the solu- tion of potash, and give it daily, until the curd is carried from the stomach, and the acidity destroyed. If the disorder be accompanied with griping pains, give with it one of the following cordials : RECIPE No. 10. Tincture of opium, . a tea-spoonful; Brandy a table-spoonful; Or, Anodyne carminative tincture, a table-spoonful. CATTLE-KEEPER. 135 This will very soon relieve the griping pains, without preventing the laxative from operating. When the calf is relieved, feed it carefully for a few days; and if its howels he loose, gruel made of arrow-root, or fine wheaten flour, should he given with a little of the solution of potash, or powdered chalk, in each feed. This should be left off gradually. Remarks. — Calves brought up by hand, even if not of delicate, weak constitutions, are liable to all these affections, merely from being improperly fed, that is, from having too much milk at a time, from that milk not being sufficiently fresh, or being in a bad state from a disordered stomach of the cow, she being fed on bad hay or stale grains. An intimate connexion exists between the udder and the cow's stomach, and the milk is very liable to become altered in quality as well as quantity, by feeding her upon bad hay : we cannot, therefore, wonder at this. There is an acid formed in the stomach of the cow, and of all animals, when that organ is weakened in a certain degree, which by irritating the fourth stomach, will disorder one or more of the quar- ters of the udder, and spoil the milk in that 136 THE COMPLETE quarter. To cure these disorders, is one thing, and requires much trouble; to prevent them, another, of less trouble, but of infinitely more importance. The prevention, then, is simply, good, wholesome food, and pure water. In Scot- land, particularly, where there is but little grass, and plenty of bad hay, this disease has at times been very prevalent, and proved very destructive. II. —Diarrhoea, or Dysentery. This disease attacks young calves from the age of two to six weeks old; it makes them thin, and sometimes settles into a dysentery, which often terminates fatally. Cause— Change of diet, particularly when stinted in good food; some careful housewives being so thrifty as not to allow them a sufficiency of proper subsistence, which nature requires at so early an age. Symptoms. — Great weakness; loathing of food; with continual purging: every thing taken into the stomach acidifies, or becomes sour, and co- agulates therein. In the last stage of the di- CATTLE-KEEPER. 137 sease, the stools become fetid and bloody; a large portion of the defensive mucus of the intestines is mixed with them; if unchecked, a gangrene or mortification ensues, and terminates in the death of the animal. Remedy.' — Give, in a little gruel, the following; RECIPE No. 11. Tincture of rhubarb, one tablespoonful ; Laudanum, one teaspoonful. or, .. ■ ' - /M "^, : RECIPE No. 12. Dover's powders, two scruples; Compound cinnamon powder, three scruples ; Prepared chalk, two drams. Mix for one drink, and give it morning and evening, as long as the purging continues. If there be a continual motion to dung, add to this a teaspoonful of laudanum ; or, RECIPE No. 13. New-laid eggs, with their shells, two; Milk, one pint. M 3 138 THE COMPLETE Mix, and give it new-milk- warm, two or three times a day, until the scouring ceases. If these means fail, an ounce of diascordium electuary should be given every morning; and if, notwithstanding all that you have done, the excrement becomes bloody and fetid, give one of the following, every morning, for a few days :— RECIPE No. 14. Diascordium electuary,' one ounce; Good red wine a wine-glass full, Or, RECIPE No. 15. Diascordium electuary, one ounces Elder-flower water, a wine-glassful; Crude sal-ammoniac, half a dram. Dissolve the sal-ammoniac in the elder-flower water) and then add the electuary; mix, and give. If feverish symptoms accompany of appear in this complaint, or if the calf lie down, kick at its belly, and appear in pain, take away half a pint of blood, or more, if the age of the calf CATTLE-KEEPER. 139 will allow it, and give the following purgative;, with a teaspoonful of laudanum therein. RECIPE No. 16. Glauber salts, three ounces; Powdered ginger, half an ounce; Aniseeds, fresh powdered, half an ounce; Treacle two tablespoonsful. Put the whole into a pitcher, and pour upon it a pint of boiling water; cover it down, and give it when new-milk warm. This is sufficient for a calf about six weeks old. Remarks.— The time of change of diet with calves is a critical and trying period; care should, therefore, be taken to change it very little for the first fortnight; and in every subsequent change to inure it by degrees; - or a dysentary may be expected, which, if not timely checked, will inevitably prove fatal. Ill — Costiveness, or Obstruction in the Bowels. Calves are liable to this complaint from the first moment of their birth; and also at every 140 th"e complete IL U .LI.IH.IIIMIMII ■■ m m 11111111.1 ii iii ■ b^miiwim iMawBigamw subsequent stage; in every one of which its life is in danger, unless timely relief be given. Cause. — Not allowing the calf to suck the first milk from the mother; or the mother being fed upon too dry meat, will induce this complaint in the first few weeks of the calf's existence; but in a more advanced age, it may result from impro- per feeding, exposure to damp, change of diet, or labouring under some latent internal disease. Symptoms. — In very young calves, not being able to dung, or even sometimes to void urine; they cease to suck, stamp with their hind feet, become short-breathed, and generally die in a short time. In older calves, nearly the same symptoms occur; which, if not timely checked, resolve into inflammation, the complaint becomes more serious, and terminates fatally. Remedy. — If the calf be very young, draw the dung out of the fundament with the finger, the finger being first oiled, and introduced carefully, and the hard excrement taken out gradually: when this has been done, one or two clysters should be thrown up, composed of infusion of CATTLE-KEEPER. 141 mallows or camomile,* and a little sweet oil. If this be not effectual, the previous purgative drink, No. 16, may be given at twice, half the quantity prescribed at each time, morning and evening. Of course, if the calf be six weeks old, it may be given as there directed, at once'; but if it be eight weeks old, then the following should be given: — a RECIPE No. 17. Glauber salts, four ounces; Rhubarb, powdered, two drams; Ginger, carraway, 1 . /one-third of and aniseed / eacn \ an ounce ; Treacle, three tablespoonsful. Put the whole into a pitcher, pour a pint of boiling water upon the ingredients, and give when new-milk warm. * Infusion of camomile, or of other herbs, is made in the same way as you make tea, merely by pouring boiling water on the herb, and suffering it to stand awhile, covered closely, to extract the principal strength of the herb. If the quantity be more than the tea-pot will contain, a clean jug will answer the same purpose, the top being covered over with a doubled cloth. When the infusion cools to about new-milk warmth, it may be poured off for use. 142 THE COMPLETE If the case be inflammatory, then the following may be substituted: — RECIPE No. 18. Castor oil, four ounces; Rhubarb, powdered, two drams ; Prepared kali, one dram; Ginger, fresh powdered a quarter of an ounce ; Aniseeds, fresh powdered, a quarter of an ounce; Treacle, two tablespoonsful. Mix, and give it in a pint of warm gruel. In a more advanced age, the salts or the castor oil should be increased; the other ingredients may remain the same. After purging give the following cordial drink, which will not only invigorate the system, but produce a healthful tendency in the blood. RECIPE No. 19. Aniseeds, fresh powdered one ounce ; Carraway-seeds, ditto one ounce; Coriander-seeds, ditto half an ounce ; Ginger, ditto half an ounce ; Grains of paradise, ditto half an ounce; Treacle, two table-spoonsful; Fresh butter, a lump the size of a walnut: CATIXE-KEEPEK. 143 Put the ingredients into a pitcher, and pour upon them a pint of boiling ale. Cover all down till new-milk warm, and then give it. This will be found an excellent drink to remove indisposition and flatulency in the stomach ; it also strengthens the stomach, and by promoting the digestive process— the best method of pre- serving health in young animals—restores the appetite, and secures health. IV. — Hoose, or Cough. Cause. — Exposure to cold, moist atmosphere, or an insufficiency of wholesome food. It ge- nerally attacks young calves during the first year; is not very difficult to cure, if attended to early; but if neglected at this period, almost invariably terminates fatally. Symptoms. — A continual ticklish sensation in the throat, caused by very small worms being engendered in the branches of the windpipe, and clustering together in a thick, whitish fluid, cause the young animal to be in an almost constant 144 THE COMPLETE state of hoosing or coughing; by which the digestive powers become so much impaired, as to render the chewing of the cud impracticable : if this disorder be not subdued by proper medi- cines, the animal languishes and pines away, as if in a consumption. Remedy. — The following ball and drink will, if early administered, generally remove this com- plaint. RECIPE No. 20. Calomel, eight to twelve grains; Gentian, in powder, two drams; Syrup, enough to make it into a ball. Give it in the morning, fasting, and let the calf be kept from food for two hours : half a pint of gruel should be administered at the time of giving the ball, to wash it down. If the hoosing continue, repeat the ball in about four or five days. After each ball, give the following purgative drink: RECIPE No. 21. Epsom salts, four ounces; Ginger, in powder, two diams ; CATTLE- KEEPER. 145 Pour a pint of boiling water upon these, and give it when new-milk warm. The following is also an excellent drench, which may be poured into the calf's nostrils. RECIPE No. 22. Oil of turpentine, a table-spoonful; Sweet oil, a tea-spoonful ; Warm water, a quarter of a pint. V. — Canker in the Mouth. Cause.— Heat of the body, induced probably by costiveness; and, like most other disorders to which calves are subject, it arises from im- proper food, or that which is not easy of di- gestion. Symptoms.— The mouth is so affected, that the young calf cannot eat properly. The inside of the cheeks and gums are tender, red, and ulcer- ated, and the teeth loose. It is sometimes ac- companied with fever, and then internal remedies must be applied. N 146 THE COMPLETE Remedy. — The following mixture is generally a cure for this complaint : RECIPE No. 23. Burnt alum, half an ounce; Roch alum, half an ounce; Common salt, half an ounce; Armenian bole, in powder, half an ounce ; Honey, two ounces. Pour a pint and a half of hot vinegar upon these ingre- dients in a covered jar: close it down, and when cold, put it into a bottle for use. The mouth must be well washed;, two or three times a day, with this mixture, in the following manner: — round one end of a cane or stick, two feet long, fold a small lump of linen, or fine tow : secure it well with strong thread: then shake the bottle well: pour some of the mixture into a pot ; dip the end of the cane or stick into the gargle mixture, and apply it all oyer the mouth. If feverish symptoms appear, administer the purgative drink, No. 16, page 139; and, after that has operated, give the cordial drink, No. 19, page 142j and repeat if necessary. CATTLE-KEEPER. 147 T V . — Inflamma lory Disorders. Cause. — Though indigestion, from improper feeding, is the cause of most of the disorders of calves, yet sometimes they thrive too quickly, or form so much blood, as to be attacked with inflammatory complaints. This is not often the case during the time they are fed on milk, but frequently when about one year old. Symptoms. — Heaviness, hanging of the head and ears, watery eyes, cough, loss of appetite, and quick and difficult breathing, or rather wheezing. Remedy. — Bleed freely, even to fainting, and afterwards give the following saline draught: RECIPE No. 24. Epsom salts, six ounces; Water, one quart. Mix, and give it either at once or twice, according to the age or constitution of the calf. This may be repeated, if necessary; and if 148 THE COMPLETE the costiveness he not removed, give the fol- lowing clyster: Observations. — When calves are about a year old, great care must be taken to prevent these inflammatory diseases, by keeping them on the barer pastures. This is more effectual than all the medicinal preventives. Thousands of calves have been destroyed by forcing them, as it is termed; that is, by keeping them too well. Moderation in food is particularly essential. Writers on cattle medicine generally recommend drenching and bleeding, when young stock are turned into good pasture: this is very good ad- vice; but we will give better — keep them out of it; for certainly prevention is much better than cure. Neat cattle at all ages, are, from going too suddenly into good pastures, very suscepti- ble of inflammation; and calves in particular Suffer from too hasty a change. They require good feeding, but that feeding must be of the nutritious, rather than of the succulent, kind. RECIPE No. 25. Table salt, Warm water, four ounces ; two quarts. CATTLE KEEPER. 149 We have thus been very explicit in the treat- ment and disorders of calves, because we consi- der that, by care and attention in their early days, a good constitution may be secured, and the greater part of the disorders which affect their more mature years, altogether prevented. Before we close this part of our subject, how- ever, we have one more remark to make on the treatment of the cow after calving: — Some cows, from an abundance of milk, are liable to a swelling of the udder after calving. It is necessary, is such cases, to draw off the milk several times a day, if the calf does not suck a sufficient quantity, and wash the udder with warm water, or with a decoction of marsh- mallows. These means are generally sufficient; and there is no danger of their causing inflam- mation and abscess — diseases which require con- siderable time and trouble to cure, and which are oftentimes brought on by the application of but- ter, lard, or some rancid ointment; which are too generally the applications made use of on this occasion. n3 150 THE COMPLETE OF THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OP THE COW, AND THE ECONOMY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. In the brief outline we are about to give of the internal structure of neat cattle, we shall not enter into an anatomical dissertation ; but merely describe so much of the digestive system as will enable the reader to comprehend the ruminating process; by which means he will not only be the better qualified to prevent many complaints to which neat cattle are subject from improper treatment, but he will also be the better enabled to understand the symptoms of the complaints with which they may be attacked, and to adopt, with greater probabilities of success, the pre- scribed methods of cure. Neat cattle belong to the ruminating tribe of animals; that is, they masticate or chew their food a second time, and then in a. more perfect manner ; thereby obtaining from it every possi- ble particle of nourishment. For this purpose they are furnished with four distinct stomachs, CATTX.E-KKEPE It. 151 into which their food passes in the several stages of digestion. These will be more fully ex- plained. When neat cattle first swallow their food, it passes down their throats in very coarse and large mouthfuls; when they have taken enough in this state, they lie down to ruminate, or, as it is termed, to chew the cud at their ease. To render this process easily to be understood, we shall briefly describe the four several stomachs. The first stomach, called the rumen, or paunch, is a very large receptacle for the food, where it is retained until the animal ruminates. There is a place in the paunch contiguous to where it joins the second stomach, which seems to act as a valve, and prevent the escape of air during the maceration of food in it. It is to this sto- mach that the food passes on being first swal- lowed by the cow. The second stomach, called the honey- comb, or bonnet, is much smaller than the paunch, and in its internal structure resembles that of the honey-comb; from whence it takes its name. It is situated rather to the right side of the gul- let, near to the midriff, or skirt, and on the upper and fore part of the paunch. The honey- 152 comb is internally covered with a sort of net- work, which seems to act as a grate or strainer to keep back any hard or foreign bodies that may have been swallowed ; pins, nails, and bits of wood and stick, having been found therein, entangled in the grate-like entrapment. This stomach seems designed as a receptacle for the more fluid parts of the food, as well as to mois- ten and press on the ruminated morsel in its progress to the third stomach. The third stomach, termed manyplies, or mani- folds, is situated on the upper and right side of the paunch, and is generally found filled with food. It then approaches in shape to the globu- lar form; but after a fast of twenty-four hours, or more, bears more resemblance to that of a kidney. This part of the system may be consi- dered as a strong muscular bag, supplied inter- nally with numerous leaves, from whence it de- rives its name, and between which the food passes to undergo a further preparation. The fourth and last stomach, called the maw, resembles the pouch of a bagpipe in form, with its right and smaller extremity connected with the intestine. It is in this maw that the digestive process is completed — the former three CATTLE-KEEPER. 153 being only preparatory. This stomach is very capacious, being thrown into large plaits or folds, from whence a peculiar fluid, called the gastric juice, is secreted, which mingling with the ruminated food, converts it into a substance which then takes the name of chyme : this chyme is conveyed into the smaller intestines, and in its passage yields the nutritive principle neces- sary for the sustenance of the animal. The fourth stomach derives, from the gastric juice, the pro- perty of curdling milk: the maw of calves, when dried, is called rennet. The digestive process is that change which the food undergoes in the four stomachs and intes- tines, and by which a fluid is separated from it for the nourishment and growth of the body. Grass, hay, or any other kind of food that the animal eats, passes directly, without much chewing, into the paunch, where it is retained until a sufficient quantity be collected. The food, while in the paunch, mixes with a fluid se- creted in this receptacle, in which it is mace- rated, and thereby undergoes a peculiar change, which destroys its texture, and converts it into a pulpy mass. When the animal lies down to ruminate, or 154 THE COMPLETE chew the cud, as it is termed, the paunch con- tracts, and by that action propels some of its contents into the honey-comb, and from thence a portion of it is transmitted, by a voluntary act of the beast, through the gullet into the mouth, to be more intimately mixed with the saliva, and more perfectly masticated by the grinders. The beast having chewed the cud, swallows it, and it now passes into the maniplies, to be .reduced to a still finer pulp, and incorporated with the fluid secreted in that stomach. The alimentary mass is gradually pressed from the manyplies into the true digesting stomach, the maw, in which it undergoes a change that is absolutely necessary to the separation of the nu- tritious part from it. The food, after being de- tained some time in the maw for this purpose, is expelled into the intestines, and in them the digestive process is completed. In the intestines it becomes intimately mixed with the bile and other secretions, which pro- duce a further decomposition in it, the result of which is the separation of the nutritious from the excrementitious part, which action is go- ing on throughout the long track of the intes- tinal gut, or canal. CATTLE-KEEPER. 155 The nutritious fluid extracted from the food, is of a white, or milk-like colour, and is termed chyle. This chyle is taken up by myriads of minute vessels, and conveyed at length to the left jugular vein, and there it mixes with the mass of blood to supply that waste which the body is continually sustaining fr om the neces- sary actions of life; while the excrementitious part is propelled along the intestinal canal, and at last expelled the body. The Udder. The connexion subsisting between the fourth stomach and the udder of the cow, is so inti- mately blended, that the one cannot be affected without the other being materially influenced: hence we may see the necessity there is of feed ing cattle properly and in attending to their health, if we would avail ourselves of the profit to be derived from their produce. If we examine the udder of a milch cow, we shall find it composed of cells of different sizes, becoming larger as they approach the teats. In a cow that has had several calves, we find two large veins proceeding from the udder, and pass- ing up under the belly. These are remarkably 156 THE COMPLETE large, when the udder is full of milk, and are commonly called the milk veins hy dairymen. In consequence of the fourth stomach being so in- timately connected with the udder, it partakes of its sympathies, and is affected hy whatever disarranges that part of the system ; so that if the fourth stomach be disordered, the milk in one or more of the quarters will be spoiled. The udder consists of four quarters, or divi- sions, each having an excretory duct, or teat, at the extremity of which there is a contrivance for confining the milk, but in a limited degree ; for if the milk be suffered to accumulate in the udder by neglecting to milk at the proper time, it will at length force its way, but imperfectly, through the teat, and be seen passing off in drops or in a small stream. This voluntary act of nature, is, however, a source of pain and injury to the cow ; and should be prevented by timely assistance. CATTLE-KEEPER. 157 OF ' . THE DISORDERS TO WHICH NEAT CATTLE ARE SUBJECT; WITH THE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, AND METHODS OF CURE. Observations. The works which have hitherto appeared on this important subject, have generally described the diseases of neat cattle under so many (and sometimes such very absurd) names, as to in- duce the belief that they were both numerous and complicated. — The truth is, however, that they are very few in number, and a knowledge of them is not at all difficult to acquire. We may, indeed describe the whole of them under two or three heads,— viz. those resulting from indigestion; those consequent upon over-feed- ing; and those attendant upon repletion of the blood-vessels. Of course, we are considering internal disorders only; for if we include wounds and similar accidents, we must extend our list-: to a fourth- class. o 158 THJB COMPLETJi The two first are, however, almost alike in character, and may indeed be referred to one and the same cause, namely indigestion — for partial overfeeding would rarely be productive of serious consequences, were not the digestive organs in a state of relaxation from previous improper feeding. But before we enter into a minute detail of the causes, symptoms, and cure of diseases gene- rally, it will be very useful to say a word or two on their prevention, and at the same time throw in a few ideas on a subject which is but little understood, namely, the causing or engendering in neat cattle a pre-clisposition to disease. The prevention of disease in cattle is an easier task than many people imagine, — it consists of nothing more than taking care, while they are young, that they have good food in moderate, but sufficient quantities; a due allowance of pure and wholesome water ; to be kept clean, and free from impurities both of the stable and the field ; to be protected from damp and unwhole- some influences; and to be allowed moderate and free exercise. — All this is very simple — it is merely taking nature for our guide, and follow- ing implicitly her plain dictates in preference to CATTLE- KEEPER. 159 our own opinions ; but its adoption will be at- tended with the advantages of laying a sound constitution, which will not only render the ani- mal less subject to many diseases, but will also be proof against many others. A contrary practice, of slighting them while young; or of feeding them indiscriminately; — of suffering them to drink excessively, or of drink- ing standing and impure -water; — of allowing them to remain dirty in their coats and stable; — of subjecting them to all weathers and influ- ences; — and of restraining them in their exer- cise; — all, or any of these practices weakens their constitution, and lays the foundation of a train of disorders; — the nervous system becomes de- pressed, the digestive organs impaired, and the strength of the whole body diminished. In this state of comparative enfeeblement, they are susceptible of nervous diseases ; or, in other words, more liable to their attack. This is what in medical language is called pre-disposition to disease, and may be considered as the remote cause of nearly every complaint to which they are in after life subject. Such are the causes which induce a pre-dis- position to disease : — the disposition or founda- THJ5 COMPUBTfl tion existing, it can be easily understood that a very slight exciting cause is capable of calling a disease into action or existence; cold, damp weather, or improper food or water,- — circum- stances . which, in animals of sound and healthy constitutions, would be productive of but slight inconvenience, are here sufficient to produce serious and even fatal diseases. DISEASES WHICH RESULT FROM INDIGESTION. Indigestion is the most varied of all diseases ; beginning from simple and apparently unimport- ant deviations from health, it gradually becomes so complicated, and often at length so under- mines every power- of the system, that is diffi- cult to give a view of its symptoms, which shall at once be sufficiently full and distinct. 1 — It is an affection of the central part of a most complicated structure, capable of influencing ■even the remotest, and each through many chan- nels, and in various ways. .. The Yellows, or Jaundice. This disorder often occurs to neat cattle, and CATTLE KEEPER. 161 especially to milch cows; it attacks them mostly in the spring, or autumn; and consists of a disordered state of the third and fourth sto- machs, and sometimes of the first. Cause. A debilitated state of the stomachs, arising from slow and imperfect digestion, by which the bile, being obstructed in its proper passage, gets conveyed into the circulating mass of blood, and is diffused into the system ^ itself. A weakness of the digestive organs, arising from improper feeding, seems to be the pre- disposing cause, and the variable state of the weather in spring and autumn, the immediate or exciting cause. Symptoms. — In the first stage of this disease the whites of the eyes appear of a yellow tint, and as it increases, the whole skin becomes im- pregnated with the same yellow hue; the ears, tail, eyes, and mouth, are the parts where it is most conspicuous to the sight; — after a while, the bowels become costive, and the teeth loose. In every stage of the disease the animals have a weakness, and great debility of the nervous sys- tem, an aversion to move, and want of appetite. o3 162 THE COMPLETE When in the pasture, they wander about by themselves, frequenting the side of hedges or fences in- a dejected manner. If a milch cow, the secretion of the milk is lessened, and what is yielded is of a yellowish and stringy quality; generally from one quarter only, and that quar- ter is hard, more or less swollen, and tender. As soon as want of appetite and the dull and languid appearance of the animal comes on, the milk is changed into a fluid somewhat resem- bling matter, and smells offensively. . If the disorder be neglected, or improperly treated, the udder sometimes bursts, and, after discharging matter .for some time, a large fleshy fungus grows out of it, which remains for a time, and then gradually separates and falls off, while the sore which ensues gradually heals. Sometimes the udder remains in a hardened, condensed state, and becomes useless ; or, in the language of dairymen, that quarter is lost. Cure. — In the first attack of the yellows, let the following drench be given; and if the wea- ther be open, turn the animal into a field where there is but bare pasture. CATTLE- KEEPER. 163 four ounces ; half an ounce; one dram; . one quart; two ounces. TO MAKE THE ANODYNE CARMINATIVE TINCTURE. Best Turkey opium, one ounce; Cloves, bruised, one ounce; Best Jamaica ginger,' one ounce; Best Cogrriac brandy, one quart. Mix them together in a well-corked bottle, shake it . frequently for about three weeks; when settled, ■ strain it through blotting paper, and it will be ready for use as wanted. Keep it well corked.. In very violent attacks of this disorder, the drench should be assisted by giving the animal whey every three or four hours, and throwing up a clyster. The swollen udder may have some olive oil gently rubbed thereon. And if the ani- mal be in good condition, two or three quarts of •blood may be taken with advantage; but it must RECIPE No. 26. Common salt, • . Barbadoes aloes, Ginger, Water, Anodyne carminative tincture, 164 THE COMPLETE not be turned out to pasture the same day it is bled. After this disorder has yielded to medi- cine and attention, the following is an excellent stomachic to invigorate the system : RECIPE No. 27. Cummin seeds, powdered, two ounces; Aniseeds, ditto, two ounces; Gentian root, two ounces ; Grains of Paradise, in powder, one ounce, Salt of tartar, one ounce, Treacle, four table-spoonsful. Mix, either in a quart of warm water, or a quart of thin gruel, for one drink, and give it new-milk warm. Chronic Indigestion. The predisposing cause of this disorder may be referred to the method of feeding cattle during the winter. Hay is then had recourse to, as a substitute for grass, — but all hay is not good; on the contrary, some is very deficient in nou- rishment, fibrous, and bad. If cows that are tied up, eat much hay of this kind, the coarse parts of the fibre accumulate in the third sto- mach, and at length weaken the digestive system. CATTLE- KEEPER. 165 Those which are more at liberty, are enabled through exercise to digest bad hay better: still the same effects, year after year, impair the di- gestive organs materially; for although the sum- mer feeding restores the animal to health, the return of winter brings on a recurrence of the complaint, and each year's effect is an addition to those of the preceding. The exciting causes are those which follow: — Cause. — Exposure to wet and cold weather; the grinding teeth injured by the stalks of dock, or bramble, mixed with hay, renders mastication difficult for a time; drinking freely of cold water after being heated by exercise, or worried by dogs. From either of these may indisposition proceed, they being often followed by a chill, or cold, which, if not timely removed, is some- times productive of serious, and even fatal dis- eases. . ' ' • • Symptoms. — The first symptoms are, listless- ness of manner, followed by a gradual disrelish of food; the animal appears dull and heavy, and sometimes feverish symptoms are induced. If the costiveness which usually accompany these 166 THE COMPLETE symptoms, be not removed, an inflammation of the bowels may be expected, and must be treated accordingly. Cure. — As soon as you perceive that any of your neat cattle are affected by cold, or that they are costive, give either of the following purga- tive draughts : RECIPE No. 28. Glauber's salts, one pound; Ginger, powdered, two ounces; Treacle, four ounces. Or, RECIPE No. 29. Epsom salts, one pound ; Aniseeds, powdered, one ounce; Ginger, powdered, one ounce; Treacle, four ounces. In either case, put the ingredients into a pitcher, pour upon them three pints of boiling water, and give it when new-milk warm. In a day or two, repeat the drench, and if it do not remove the costiveness, administer the following clyster : CATTLE-KEEPER. 167 RECIPE No. 30. Thin gruel, (new-milk warm) three quarts; Common salt, eight ounces; Sweet oil, half a pint. Bleeding may also be applied to, if feverish or inflammatory symptoms appear. If the ani- mal be affected with a cough, quick pulse, a discharge from the nostrils, and soreness of the throat, it has settled into a catarrh, and must be treated accordingly. «b'ee Catarrh. Diarrhoea, or Looseness. Cattle are most subject to this complaint in the months of April and May, especially if the season be wet and cold: cows after calving are very liable to its attacks, if exposed to wet situ- ations about this time : cattle which have been improperly or poorly fed during the winter, are also particularly subject to its influence. — It is mostly soon cured; but if not speedily attended to, or improperly treated, settles into Dysentery, and often terminates fatally. Cause. — The remote or predisposing causes 168 THE COMPLETE are as before-stated; but the immediate or excit- ing causes exist generally in the changeable state of the weather, and the want of sufficient vigour in the animal to resist those changes; or from a weakness of the bowels, induced by bad or poor keep, and hastened by the debilitating effects of milking. Symptoms. — Frequent and copious evacuations of their dung, sometimes of a slimy or mucous, and at others of a bloody, appearance. As the disease advances, the beast becomes reduced in flesh, and loses its appetite, the dung has a glairy appearance, and the complaint becomes settled into dysentery. It may be distinguished from the latter, however, or known if it has- termi- nated in that complaint, by the purging in dy- sentery being accompanied with very severe gripings, and painful efforts to expel the dung; besides which, the latter is mostly prevalent, in autumn. Cure. — In the first place, if the weather be unfavourable, put the affected animal into a cow- house, or in a situation sheltered from the wea- ther, and give the following drench: CATTLE- KEEPER. 169 RECIPE No. 31. Barbadoes aloes, four to six drams ; Common salt, six ounces; Ginger, powdered, . one to three drams; Anodyne carminative tincture, two ounces ; .Water, one quart. Mix, and give it early in the morning. If the weather be favourable, turn the animal into pasture which has but a bare, short bite. In the evening give the following cordial, astrin- gent drench : RECIPE No. 32. Powdered catechu, two drams; Allspice, fresh powdered', two drams; Carraway, ditto half an ounce; Good beer, or good table ale, a pint. The first three ingredients must be simmered for a few minutes in half the beer, and when it is ready to be given, the remainder of the beer should be added. These drenches should be continued three or four days after the scouring has ceased, and until the dung resembles that of healthy cows: the feeding, meanwhile, should be such as is easy of v 170 THE COMPLETE digestion; if your hay be very good, give it, a little at a time, and often, with a little fine bran, or pollard : and let the water given to drink be just slightly warmed. Dysentery, Slimy Flux, or Scouring Rot. Cattle kept in low, damp, and swampy situ- ations, are at all times subject to the attacks of this disease; but it is most prevalent in autumn. It is also the complaint into which diarrhoea generally resolves, when improperly treated, or neglected. Cause. — Dysentery is mostly brought on by the perspiration being suppressed by exposure to damp, or sudden vicissitudes of the weather. Cattle, also, that have been overheated by driv- ing, or worried, and afterwards lie down upon the wet grass, are very liable to its attacks. If the system be predisposed by bad feeding, or weakened by previous complaints, a very slight exciting cause will be sufficient to produce the complaint; a cold, or chill may be the first ap- pearance that disease is present; and if those symptoms be disregarded, a diarrhoea, or dy- CATTLE-KEEPER. 171 sentery will inevitably succeed; and the more it is neglected the more difficult and obstinate will be the cure. ■ Symptoms. — The animal is seen to make fre- quent and painful efforts to expel the dung, which is thin, slimy, and altered in colour; sometimes, indeed, nothing but slimy or liquid matter is ejected: flatulency succeeds, accompanied with severe gripings of the bowels, evident from the restless state of the animal, frequently lying down and soon rising again: a rumbling noise is also heard in the intestines, from wind generated in them. As the disease increases, the beast becomes reduced to a weak and debilitated state; its appetite is lost, 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, and a membrane- ous or skinny-like substance is seen on it; the hair all over the body assumes a staring appear- ance, feverish symptoms ensue, the eyes become dull and heavy, the pulse quick, inflammation succeeds, and the disease terminates in death. Cure. — Timely bleeding, purging drenches, and 172 THE COMPLETE clysters. The animal affected must be put under shelter, and fed on dry meat, such as good hay, ground oats, crushed barley, or beans, given, a little at a time, and often. If little appetite exist, give stiff gruel through a horn, once or twice a day. As soon as the disease is observed, give the following opening drench: RECIPE No. 33. Epsom salts, one pound; Ginger, in powder, half an ounce ; Aniseeds, ditto . half an ounce; Solid opium, cut small, one dram; Pour three pints of boiling water upon these ingredi- ents, and when cooled to new-milk warmth, give it to the animal. If this does not speedily allay the symptoms, give the drench No. 30; and if the eyes be in- flamed, the twitchings of the belly painful, and the expulsion of the excrements accompanied with severe gripings, take away three or four quarts of blood from the beast, and give a pint of salad oil. When the physic has operated, the following CATTLE-KEEPER. 173 astringent drink may be given with advantage, and repeated every other day, for three or four days, if necessary: — RECIPE No. 34. Prepared chalk, four ounces; Bole armenic, in powder, two ounces; Aniseeds, powdered, one ounce; Ginger, ditto, one ounce; Solid opium, cut small, one dram. Mix for one drink, in a quart of warm ale or gruel. In the worst stage of the disease, the surface of the body should be kept warm with a rug or woollen cloth. Staggers, Vertigo, Lethargy, Swimming of the Head, or Paralysis of the Stomach. This disorder has many names, but the symp- toms are unequivocal, and too evident to be mis- taken. It is the highest degree of disease in the digestive system, in which the muscular power of the stomachs have been so exhausted, that they are incapable of contracting upon the food p3 174 THE COMPLETE taken in by the animal; for although from habit the beast may continue to feed, the appetite is so depraved, that it no longer chooses its food, but eats, with apparent equal relish, or rather, indifference, from hedges aud ditches, the coars- est and most indigestible food. It mostly attacks those animals who have been poorly fed in the winter, and are in spring turned into a fertile pasture. Cause.-— The exhausted state of the digestive faculty is the remote cause, while the vital power that remains^ or the temptation of a change of food, inducing a continuance of appetite, by which the animal loads its stomach with im- proper food, is the exciting cause. The immedi- ate seat of the complaint is in the brain, — a superabundancy of blood being determined to that organ, which, if not speedily checked, ter- minates in inflammation of the brain, phrensy, or sough. Symptoms.— Heaviness of the head, and con- stant disposition to sleepiness, the animal some- times resting its head upon or against a gate or hedge, and appearing almost insensible; aiid if it attempts to walk, it reels or staggers. CATTLEKEKPiHl. 175 CVe:— -The first thing necessary is to give the following drench, (No. 35): a clyster of salt and water, (No. 36,) must then be thrown up, and three or four quarts of blood taken away. RECIPE No. 35. Barbadoes aloes, six drams; Common salt, eight ounces; Flour of mustard, one ounce; Brandy, rum, or gin, a wine-glassful. Mix the first three ingredients in a quart of water, slightly warmed, add the spirits, and give it imme- diately. The following clyster will also be necessary for expelling any hardened excrement which may be lodged in the bowels. RECIPE No. 36. Common salt, eight ounces; Warm water, four quarts, If the purgative drench does not act in the course of twenty hours, give about half the same quantity every eight hours, until the effect be produced: and if the complaint does not 176 THE COMPLETE subside under the united treatment of purgatives, clyster, and bleeding, each repeated at intervals, let the following be given to act upon the kid- neys, and thereby divert the blood from the head: RECIPE No. 37. Powdered rosin, two ounces; Powdered nitre, one ounce; Cream of tartar, one ounce; Powdered ginger, one ounce; Powdered aniseeds, one ounce ; Treacle, four ounces. Mix, and give it in a quart of ale, and repeat it, if necessary, after an interval of two days. Loss of the Cud. Rumination, or the chewing the cud, is, as we have before stated, that motion of the rumen, or first stomach, by which the food is forced back into the mouth to be perfectly masticated. This motion is not sudden, nor violent, like that of vomiting; but gradual and gentle, when the ani- mal is healthy. When, therefore, an animal ceases to perform this essential act of digestion, it is an evident proof that the stomach is out of CATTLE-KEEPER. 177 order; it may depend on the state of the first stomach, or it may proceed from the third. It will require little argument to prove, that nei- ther of these stomachs can remain disordered, and the others be free from disease; and it re- quires as little to shew that early attention to symptoms of indigestion are equally as essential as the evil is at first easy to remove. • Cause. — An accumulation of * dry fibrous mat- ter in the third stomach, or 'an adhesion between the first stomach and the side, originating in the animal having been stabbed on that side, to let out the confined air, when blasted, or hoven: either will cause imperfection in the digestive process; and which, if neglected, will bring on fever and even inflammation. Cure.— The drench prescribed for diarrhoea, (No. 31,) should be administered. If there be quickness of breath, hot horns, and other symp- toms of fever, or inflammation, the animal should be bled freely, and the following drench adminis- tered: — RECIPE No. 38. Epsom salts, ten ounces; Whey, one quart. 178 THE COMPLETE Afterwards, if the weather be favourable, turn the animal into a field with a short bite of grass : but if it be wet, keep it under shelter. Moor III, and Wood III, or Evil. These, or rather this, disorder, for it is merely two names for the same disease, viz. weakness of the digestive system, is mostly prevalent among those cattle that are left to pick up a scanty subsistence on moors and common; with now and then a small allowance of indifferent hay; and is the inevitable consequence of poor and insufficient keep. Cause. — Wood evil proceeds from debility, brought on by taking cold when exposed in bleak and barren situations; and the moor ill is occa- sioned by a want of sweet fresh water. Symptoms. — Much the same in both; debility, and costiveness, succeeded by pain and stiffness in the joints. Cure. — Remove the cattle to a better situation, where the grass is good and' sweet, and where CATTLE-KEEPEK. 179 good and wholesome water can be obtained: give the following drink, and it is most likely- nothing more will be necessary. RECIPE No. 39. Grains of paradise, powdered, two ounces; Aniseeds, ditto two ounces; Carraway seeds, ditto two ounces; Fenugreek, ditto two ounces. Mix in about two pints of warm water, and give it at once with about two spoonsful of treacle, or coarse sugar. Or, RECIPE No. 40. Infusion of wormwood in ale,* one quart; Long pepper, pounded, six drams; . Grains of paradise, six drams. Or, if very costive, yon may give the drink prescribed for Red-water, Recipe No. 3], or 47- And a few drenches with ginger given afterwards will serve to complete the cure, and re-establish a perfect digestion. * Infusion of wormwood in ale is made by putting two handsful of wormwood in a clean stone pitcher, and pouring one quart of ale boiling hot upon it, then cover it close with a plate, and a cloth over that, till nearly cold, when it is fit for use. 180 THE COMPLETE Clue-Bound, or Fardel- Bound, and Pantos. These are all different names for one and the same complaint; and its origin may generally be traced to a similar source as the proceeding. Cause. — The same as wood-evil. Symptoms. — The animal is said to be clue or fardel bound, where, in addition to the symp - toms of wood-evil, it is disposed to costiveness; and when, as is often the case in the first, stage of fevers, the thin excrements force their way through the middle, or on one side of the more hardened part. When this is observed, speedy relief must be afforded to the animal, or its life will be in danger. Cure. — The animal must be removed into a better situation, the same as recommended in the cure of wood-evil; and the draught No. 29, should be given, and repeated, if necessary. The following restorative drink will be found very serviceable in this, as well as in many other disorders, after the purgative drinks have suf- ficiently operated, and the animal become re- duced by disease and medicine. CATTLE- KEEPER. 181 Gentian, Nitre, . . Salt of steel, Aniseeds Carraway-seeds Ginger, Treacle, ' RECIPE No. 41. one ounce; half an ounce ; half an ounce; one ounce ; one ounce ; one ounce.; four table-spoonsful. Powder each of the above, mix for one drink, and give it in a quart of warm gruel. . . Flatulent Cholic, or Gripes. This, though not a common complaint, is one that gives the animal much pain, but is easily re- lieved by prompt assistance. Cause. — Eating unbruised corn of any kind, particularly oats, or the dry, fibrous kind of bad hay: particularly if at the time the diges- tive organs be in a weak state. Symptoms. — The animal seems in great pain, often lying down, and getting up again she turns round her head to her hind parts, and endea- Q 182 THE COMPLETE vours to strike her belly with her horns, or hind leg : her appetite fails, and is indeed lost, being in too much pain to be able to eat any thing. Cure. — Give the opening drench, recipe No. 31 ; a moderate quantity of whey may be given ; and, if necessary, a clyster of half a pound of salt diluted in four quarts of water. Stoppage of Water, retention of Urine, or Stranguary, Is the consequence, generally, of the sto- mach and bowels being loaded, and thereby blown up with air; and is attended with intense pain to the animal. Cause. — In neat cattle, it proceeds from the first stomach, or rumen, being blown up, or blasted; in which case, the urine is stopped by the bladder being pressed downward, so that its neck rests upon the bones which form the brim of the pelvis, and is thereby completely closed. Pregnant cows, during the latter period of ges- tation, are subject to stoppage of urine, when tied up, and fed wholly on hay; and especially when fed too liberally on grains. CATTLE- KEEPER. 183 Symptoms. — Being a part of the complaint termed hoven or blown, see those diseases. — We may add, that the animal labouring under this additional disorder, often strides as if endeavour- ing to void its urine, hut without more effect than a few drops, and those not without consi- derable pain. Cure: — The recipe No. 1, being a powerful opening drench, may be administered with good effect ; if that cannot be conveniently had, the following will be an excellent substitute : RECIPE No. 42. Common salt, six ounces ; Flour of mustard, a table-spoonful; Water, one quart ; Gin, a quarter of a pint : A little grated ginger may be added, and, instead of the gin, strong beer may be substituted, when it is more readily obtained. A clyster, similar to that described in flatulent cholic, is indispensible. There is no difficulty, with a cow, in passing the fore finger into the bladder, and letting the urine flow off. 184 THE COMPLETE Atrophy, or Consumption. This is an incurable disorder, unless taken early, and the 'animal kept in a good sheltered pasture. Some stock are tender, and of weakly constitutions from their birth; and, therefore, if placed in more exposed, and much colder situa- tions than they were bred in, will be more liable to consumption, having less vital energy. Cause. — The pre-disposing cause of atrophy is bad keep, but especially bad hay or straw. The chyle formed from such food becomes acri- monious, and inflames and obstructs the mesen- teric glands, and produces a dreadful disease, even of the great mesenteric artery,, which will always be found full of worms. Its exciting cause is, generally, a neglected cold. Symptoms. — This disease is first discovered by the animal having a hoose, or cough, and poking out of the neck : if it be now examined between the jaws, the glands there are swollen, which, pressing upon the head of the wind-pipe, cause the beast to poke out its neck for breath. If the disease be not checked, or if it does not CATTLE-KEEPER. 185 yield to medicine, the lungs become affected, producing a wheezing and difficulty of breathing on the least exertion. When the lungs are once attacked, no remedy can be applied ; the knife, of the butcher, is, therefore, the only resource. Cure. — As soon as this disease is noticed, the animal must be taken from the field, particularly at night, and kept in a sheltered place; it should then be bled gently, and have administered the purging drink, receipe No. 28. — If not success- ful in this treatment, set a seton* in the dew- lap, and keep its bowels gently open, and give it but little solid food, and that of the best, and easiest digested. — The following drink may as- sist in the cure: RECIPE No. 42. Nitre, two ounces ; Salt of steel, one ounce ; Glauber salts, four ounces; Ginger and aniseeds, powdered, each one ounce; Treacle, four ounces : Mix these for one drink, put it into a pitcher, and pour a quart of boiling- water on it : give it milk warm. It may be repeated every third day. * For the proper mode of setting a seton, see the Appendix. Q3 186 THE COMPLETE DISEASES WHICH ARISE FROM OVER-FEEDING. In the diseases of which we have treated, there generally existed a pre-disposing cause in the constitution of the animal ; and which, in a greater or less degree, tended to induce indis- position; a very slight cause, would, in such cases, be sufficient to excite or produce the next serious consequences. — In those which we are about to describe, the pre-disposing cause is not always so apparent ; on the contrary, they gene- rally have their origin, developement, and ter- mination in sudden causes, as too freely indulg- ing in rich nutritious food, or over eating after a previous cornparative abstinence. Neat cattle are most subject to these com- plaints in spring and autumn ; the fresh spring- ing grasses, and especially clover, tempt them to feed more greedily than usual; and their di- gestive faculties, enfeebled by winter feed, or other cause, are incapable of the extra exertion required of them. In such cases, the system becomes oppressed, and its action paralized : the effects are not always the same, but vary ac- CATTLE-KEEPER. 18/ cording to the nature of the disorder.- — Of these the most common is, Hoven, Blown, or Blasted. . In our description of the digestive system of neat cattle, we stated, (in page 155), that there was in that part of the rumen which joined the second stomach, a kind of valve, which, during the mastication of the food, prevents the escape of air. In this complaint, the animal's stomach being filled by an unusual quantity of food, be- comes distended beyond its capacity; the food then ferments, air is evolved, the whole body becomes swollen, rumination is completely put a stop to, and a considerable pain is produced. Symptoms. — The beast swells, and a difficulty of breathing is produced, with much apparent uneasiness : if relief be not quickly afforded, the symptoms increase, the animal becomes unable to stand, and generally dies from suffocation. Remedy. — The best cure is the probang,* a * A more particular account of this useful instrument will be found in the Appendix. 188 THE COMPLETE flexible instrument made for this purpose, and sold by most saddlers and farriers. This being passed into the stomach, the confined air rushes out, and the animal is, for the time, relieved. When this useful instrument is not at hand, a very good substitute may be made with three small canes, each about six feet long. Bind them together with a waxed packthread, firmly securing, at one end, a ball of wood, about a pigeon's egg in size. To introduce this into the stomach, the bullock's nose should be held out as nearly in a straight line as possible with the throat; let an assistant hold it firmly in this posture, and at the same time let him grasp the partition of the nostrils with the fingers and thumb of his right hand j the operator can then easily force the ball into the stomach, and let out the confined air. Some farriers afford relief by plunging a sharp knife into the distended rumen, on the left side, between the last rib and the hip bone. As soon as the knife is withdrawn, the air rushes out, and relief is afforded: the wound is then closed by a plaster of Burgundy pilch. — 'This is a bad practice : a second attack becomes more difficult of cure, as the wound adheres to the side : and every repetition increases the danger. CATTLE- KEEPER. 189 Either of the draughts, No. 28, or No. 29, may be given with good effect : or the cordial drink No. 39, may be administered : the beast should then be turned into a bare pasture, where it must work well for a belly-full, and the cure will be complete. The following RECIPE No. 43. Mild ale, . one pint ; Ginger, powdered, a . dessert tea-spoonful : Is an excellent cordial drink to renovate the digestive faculties. . Choking. Neat cattle are very subject to being blasted or hoven, from eating too greedily of artificial grasses, or succulent roots, — in the latter case, also, they are very liable to have a piece of tur- nip or potatoe stick in the throat. When this happens, which may easily be known by the animal's efforts to swallow the obstructing piece, it should be forced into the stomach ; — this may be done by a moderate sized rope, about seven feet long; by which means also any air confined in the rumen, will escape. The principal cause of this, which is rather 190 THE COMPLETE an accident, than a disease, is a disposition in the animal to eat greedily and voraciously, where tempting food offers. The cure may be completed by giving the recipe No. 43, and a bare pasture for a while, to renovate both its appetite and digestive faculties. Fog Sickness. At the latter end of summer, and in autumn, when the rainy season sets in, the grass gene- rally becomes abundant; and, shortly after, the morni--gs are frosty. At this season, the diges- tive faculties, as well as the whole system, are weakened from the effects of the summer heat, the appetite becomes morbid and irre gular, and some cattle will then eat voraci- ously. They then lie down to ruminate, proba- bly when the grass is covered with hoar-frost; and this, together with the cold and damp of the atmosphere, so depresses the strength of the stomachs, as to put a stop to the digestive pro- cess. The body then swells, the animal is evi- dently in great pain, appears stupid, and breathes with difficulty. — Such are the cause and symp- toms, which so far differ from hoven. CATTLE -KEEPER. 191 Cure.— The first thing to be done, is to bleed freely, the habit being at this season generally redundant. The probang, as used for hvven, or blown cattle, should be then employed, and either of the drenches No. 28, or 29, may be given: when this is operated, the cordial drink No. 39, should be administered, and the cure may be considered as effected. — Or the following drench may be substituted in this case, if more handy than either of the others: — RECIPE No. 44. Common salt, ten ounces; *Flour of mustard, two table-spoonsful; Water, one quart; Gin, one quartern: Mix, and give as one draught. A clyster of salt and water will also be of great service ; and when the animal is a little relieved, it should be turned into a bare pasture; above all, do not suffer cattle to lie abroad at this season, but shelter them for the night either in a shed or out-house. * A tea-spoonful of ginger in powder, may be substituted, when flour- of-mustard is not readily attainable. 192 THE COMPLETE Meadow Sickness. Mr. Bromedge, of Lower Stone, Gloucester- shire, put several cows into a piece of rich aftermath. Shortly after, when he went to see them, he found six of 'them ill, and appearing as if they wanted to vomit. He immediately drove them all from the meadow into a bare pasture, in which were a number of mole casts. The sick cows, led by instinct, went immediately to the mole heaps, and eat of the earth very gree- dily. — Mr. B. did not interrupt them, but awaited the effect ; and, in short time, had the pleasure to see them all recover. — He observed, also, that the other cows did not attempt, to touch the mole heaps. This circumstance being communicated to Mr. White, that gentleman was led to an enquiry, the result of which proved that when animals gorge themselves, an acid forms, which passing into the fourth stomach, causes considerable irri- tation and pain. This acidity is corrected by chalk, or carbonate of lime. Under these con- victions, Mr. White was induced in cases of this kind, as well as when cattle were hoven, to pre- scribe either of the following draughts: — CATTLE-KEEPER. 193 RECIPE No. 45. Common salt, four ounces ; Carbonate of soda, one ounce- Powdered aloes, half an ounce ; ginger, two drams; Water, one q uar (;. An odyne carminative tincture, two or three ounces : Mix for one draught. Or, RECIPE No. 46. Common salt, six ounces ; Carbonate of soda, one ounce and a half* ; Flour of mustard, one ounce and a half; Ale, one pint ; Water, one pint : Mix for one draught. Precautions, by observing which most of the diseases resulting from over-feeding may be prevented. When cattle are first put into clover, vetches, rich aftermath, or into any pasture much better than that from which they have been taken, let them remain not more than an hour at a time, particularly if clover, and then drive them into R 194 THK COMPLETE a bare pasture ; by which means they may be gradually inured to the change, and the evil con* sequences will be averted. Generally speaking, a bare pasture is the only remedy required to renovate the digestive sys- tem, when impaired by previous excess. — And to keep it good, let them feed well, and often, and but a little at a time. And, whenever the brain is oppressed by repletion of blood, which is indicated by heaviness or evincing a disposi- tion to. sleep, bleed freely, or more sparingly, according to the emergency. DISEASES WHICH PROCEED FROM REPLETIOM OF BLOOD. This class of diseases comprehends the in- flammatory, and other similar attacks, which are consequent upon the whole habit being op- pressed by a superabundance of blood. Bleed- ing, and that promptly and freely, even to faint- ness, is the general and only cure : other reme- dies may be useful, and even essential to reno- vate the system ; but it is upon copious bleed- ing that the life of the animal generally depends. CATTLE-KEEPER. 195 Red and Black Water. These two complaints are but different stages of the same disease ; the- one proceeding from indigestion, and the other resulting from a ne- glect of removing the early symptoms, and ter- minating in inflammation of the kidneys. The pre-clisposirig cause may be laid to the ac- count of the bad hay or other indifferent food, upon which the animal has been kept, perhaps during the winter, and which contained more fibre than nourishment. These fibrous particles accumulate in the third stomach, and thereby depress and weaken the digestive system : some- times they form into cakes of matted fibre, and altogether prevent the action of the third sto- mach. — While in this state, the animal feeds greedily, particularly on grass lands, and drinks as freely; hence it is that blood is quickly formed; and the action of the stomach being impeded, the kidneys are oppressed by an unu- sual suffusion of blood; the consequence is, that blood passes off with the urine, sometimes so copiously, that the animal bleeds to death. In a cow, the milk is soon reduced in quantity, and, 196 THE COMPLETE as the disorders advances, becomes discoloured ; the beast is also frequently so weak, as to be unable to rise when down. Symptoms. — The symptoms have been very generally described in the above statement; in addition, we may observe, that the excrement is sometimes discharged with considerable force, but in a small stream, watery, and mixed with hard knobs, forced from the matter accumulated in the third stomach : sometimes, these stop up the passage of the fundament; and then the fin- ger must be introduced to remove the clots, or a clyster thrown up. Cure. — A saline laxative medicine is most proper in this disease, to open the bowels ; recipe 31, (page 169,) or either of the following, will answer the purpose : RECIPE Barbadoes aloes^, Glauber's salts, Calomel, Carraways, powdered, ' Water, Mix, and give No. 47. six drams ; six ounces ; one ounce and a half; one ounce ; one pint: it milk warm. CATTLE-KEEPER. 197 Or, RECIPE No. 48. Epsom salts, Water, Castor or olive oil, six to eight ounces ; one pint ; six to eight ounces ; Ten ounces of common salt may be substituted for eight of Epsom, when more handy. Where the medicine given does not operate freely, assist it by drenching the animal with whey. Take two quarts of blood, or more, ac- cording to the state of the animal's habit. When you succeed in removing the hardened excrement from the third stomach, and in put- ting a stop to the discharge of blood with the urine, attention should be paid to the animal's diet, as the digestive system is in a very wea- kened state. Nothing is better adapted for this purpose than a field where the grass is short and sweet, and where it must exercise itself to obtain a proper quantity of food. This disease being of an inflammatory nature, bleeding is indispensible; take about twojquarts of blood, and if necessary repeat it the next day. Mr. White pursued this practice success- fully, and never lost one through red water after- wards. If it be accompanied with looseness, or r3 198 THE COMPLETE symptoms of pain, as a straining or holding out of the tail, give in preference the recipe No. 31, and afterwards administer the cordial drink? recipe No. 39. The following hall, being of a more astringent nature, may be administered with good effect, after the costiveness has been subdued. RECIPE No. 49. Venice turpentine, four ounces; Nitre, in powder, two ounces; Bay-berries, do. two ounces ; Armenian bole, do. two ounces; Alum, do. four ounces : Make into one ball. Then slice the ball into a pit- cher, and pour over it a quart of hot gruel ; when new- milk warm, give it. This ball may be repeated every other night. Red water is often brought on by drinking turf or peat pit water. Downfal, Udder III, Sore Udders, Inflam- mation of the Udder, fyc. From what we have said of the digestive pro- cess of the cow, and the intimate connection be- CATTLE -KEEPER. 199 tween the fourth stomach and the udder, the reader will he at no loss to understand that when that is out of order, the udder, and consequently the quality and quantity of the milk, must be materially affected.— These, or rather this com- plaint, for they are all one, or different stages of the same disease, of which the pre disposing cause was bad feeding, and the exciting cause, a cold, or inflammation of the udder, is essen- tial to be taken in time, and of the utmost con- sequence to owners of young cattle, who are very liable to its attack, especially at the time of calving Cause. — This disease may not only proceed from the above causes, but may also be induced by the animal drinking freely of cold water, when heated by exercise;— or by exposure and lying down in cold and damp grass at the latter end of the year, when the nights are cold and f °ggy, and at a time when the stomach is loaded with food, and the blood plentiful. It will be seen therefore that this disease is often an accompaniment of fog or meadow sickness, as well as of other complaints originating in colds or similar causes. 200 THE COMPLETE Symptoms. — One or more quarters of the udder becomes swollen, hardened, hotter than com- mon, and painful when pressed; the milk is re- duced in quantity, and changed to a ragged, bloody, or corrupt appearance. At other times, the secretion of milk is stopped, and the tume- fied quarter proceeds to a state of suppuration. It not unfrequently happens, that the hinder ex- tremities, at the same time, become swollen and inflamed, especially about the hip-joint, hock, and fetlock; which often disables the animal from rising when down. Sometimes the symp- toms of this disease assume a different appear- ance, and the udder is scarcely or not at all affected ; but the disease appears confined to the joints; which is known by their being swollen and inflamed, and attacking such cows as are liable to the downfal in the udder. Cure. — As soon as the disease is discovered, remove the animal from the pasture, and take from her from three to five quarts of blood; especially if the cow be in good condition, and breathes quickly, and appears stupid : do this at night, and, the next morning, give her the drink recipe No. 31, or 28, or 29. If the weather be CATTLE- KEEPER. 201 damp and cold, keep her under shelter, and feed her moderately with nourishing food ; but if the weather be fine, turn her into a bare pasture, where she will be obliged to exert herself for her food. The swollen udder, or rather that part of it which is affected (for there is seldom more than one part or quarter affected at a time) should have the bad milk drawn from it three or four times a day; for if suffered to re- main in it, it will irritate and increase the in- flammation. Bathe it also after milking with olive oil, or elder ointment; and if the swelling continue, and be not very tender, the following embrocation will be of great service: RECIPE No. 50. 01ive oiI - three ounces; Oil of turpentine, one ounce; Camphor, two drams j Or, RECIPE No. 51. Soft soa P' four ounces; Spring water, one pmt . Rectified spirits of wine, two ounces; Spirits of turpentine, two ounces; Dissolve the soft soap in spring-water boiling hot; and, when cold, add the spirits of wine and turpentine. 202 THE COMPLETE Let this mixture be well rubbed on the part affected night and morning, after the milk has been drawn off; and if the udder be very bad, repeat the milking in the middle of the day, and bathe the parts affected with cold water. When the purging drinks have operated, give the following occasionally, which will not only help to eradicate the disease, but is excellent as a preventive of its recurrence : RECIPE No. 52. Nitre, two ounces ; Cape aloes, powdered, half an ounce ; Salt of tartar, one ounce; Yellow resin, powdered, four ounces ; Juniper-berries, ditto. two ounces; Ginger, ditto. two ounces ; Treacle, two table-spoonsful : Mix them all together, and give it in a quart of warm ale. Abscess of the Udder. When the previous disease, downfal, or ud- der-ill, has been neglected, or improperly treated, and especially when the bad milk has not been drawn off, pus, or matter, forms in the quarter, CAtTLK-K EEPE R . 203 which, after some time, bursts. In this case, the wound sometimes gradually heals; at others, a fungus, or excrescence, sprouts from it, which is often of considerable size. This excrescence, however, if left to itself, gradually drops off, and the udder then heals. Sometimes, the matter gradually drains off from, or accumulates in, the teat, which will then require to be opened with a lancet. This should be done by a skilful per- son; or the remedy may prove worse than the disease. Another termination of this disorder, is a gra- dual thickening or hardening of the quarter, which ends in the total obliteration of that part of the udder. The mode of cure has been pointed out in the last disease, of which, indeed, this is but a se- cond or more confirmed stage. In some cases, it may be found necessary to amputate the whole of the udder. Where this is really indispensible, it can only be done by a person of experience. By a preventive regimen, the predisposition to this disease may be eradicated from the system. Mr. Clayton, in his treatise on cattle, says — A fanner had a large cow, of gross habit of body, that had been accustomed to have this complaint 204 THE COMPLETE several times in the course of one season; of course, to a considerable disadvantage: he next summer dried and fed her well; but to no use, for she was not long at grass, before the old complaint again attacked her. Mr. Clayton was consulted, and he advised giving her a pound and a quarter of Glauber's salts, every six weeks during the time of feeding. This prevented its return: the cow fattened, and did well. Blain, or Fever, with Swelling, Called also by the name of hawkes, or gargyse, is a disease which, although not unfre- quent, in general is not discovered until it has made some progress; it then appears with a swelling of some part, and, in some few instances, extends over the whole surface of the body, accompanied with feverish symptoms. Cause. — A redundancy of blood in the system, or a cold taken by the beast while under such influence: those cattle are the most subject to this complaint that are in high condition, and fed on rich pastures. It is most prevalent in the summer months, especially when the weather is CATTLE-KEEPER. 205 hot and sultry, which oppresses the animal, and deranges the healthy functions of the body. Symptoms. — The animal appears dull and lan- guid; the eyes, red and inflamed, with tears trick- ling from them j swelling in some part of the body, as about the nose, lip, and under the chaps, extending to the brisket, or even under the belly till the udder is affected. Sometimes the swelling begins about the eyes, and appears on other parts of the body; there are often blis- ters under the tongue, and back part of the mouth; the pulse is quicker than natural; there is more or less beating of the flanks, and the bowels are sometimes bound. As the complaint advances, a copious flow of saliva proceeds from the mouth; the beast gets weak, and reduced; a considerable quantity of watery matter con- gregates in the tumefied part; which must be discharged by puncturing with a knife. Cure. — Bleeding is chiefly to be depended on in the cure of this disease: on its first appear- ance, three or four quarts of blood, according to the size and strength of the beast, should be taken away, and repeated, if necessary. After 20G THE COMPLETE bleeding, administer the following cooling purg- ing drink: RECIPE No. 53„ Epsom or Glauber salts, twelve ounces ; Nitre, one ounce; Ginger, powdered, half an ounce; Aniseed ditto half an ounce; Treacle three ounces. Pour the ingredients into a pitcher, pour three pints of boiling water upon them, and give them new-milk warm. Puerperal, or Milk Fever, and Inflamma- tion of the Womb. This is a disease which most peculiarly attacks cows in high condition at the time of calving, or is brought on by the force so often and so improperly used in delivery. It is most likely to happen when the cow calves during the hot months of summer; and the cows most predis- posed to it, have generally large udders very full of milk several days before calving, which are often much infiammed and swelled. It is a dangerous disease, when severe, and often proves fatal. CATTLE-KEEPER. 207 Cause— The predisposing cause is, as we have observed, the too high condition of the cow at the time of her calving; its immediate cause is generally an inflammatory state of the udder, most commonly induced by the animal taking cold, and from a redundancy of blood in the system. About the third day after calving, an unusual quantity of blood is determined to the udder, to assist in the formation of milk; but when the udder is inflamed, this action is inter- rupted, and the blood is transferred to other parts of the body, which deranges the whole animal frame, and produces the milk fever. Symptoms — The first appearances of milk fever are generally perceived about the second or third day after calving: the animal refrains from her food, looks dull and heavy, and walks as if she had caught cold: a cold, shivering-fit, comes on, accompanied with a debility, so weakening, that the beast commonly drops, and is often unable to rise, until relief be afforded . She becomes very restless, and appears to feel in great pain in the body, as she often looks towards her flanks, kicks with her feet, and seems much distressed. As the disease proceeds, the head becomes affected, 208 THE COMPLETE the cow loses her senses, and will knock and bruise her head against any thing, if care be not taken to. prevent her. The pulse is now quick, and the tongue parching dry; the bowels are costive; no milk is secreted, and the slimy dis- charge ceases. Unless the disease be subdued, the body becomes enlarged; and if- this swelling be not soon decreased by medical assistance, all hopes of recovery may be considered at an end. Remedy. — If the feverish symptoms run high, and are attended with much pain, bleed copi- ously, and repeat it, if necessary; but if the fever be but slight, the animal should be bled but once, and that only in proportion to her strength. Let the drink recommended in page 122, (recipe No. 5), be given as soon as possible, and repeat it every twenty hours: if the bowels be not readily moved by the purgative drink, inject the Mowing clyster: RECIPE No. 54. Thin gruel, three quarts; Common salt,, eight ounces; Spirits of turpentine, half a pint; Treacle, four ounces. Mix, and when new-milk warm, inject it. CATTLE-KEEPER. 209 When the howels are opened, and the animal is low and unable to rise, give the following cordial drink, and repeat it, if necessary : RECIPE No. 55. Grains of paradise, powdered, half an ounce ; ditto half an ounce; ditto two ounces; ditto two ounces; two ounces; half an ounce ; half an ounce ; four tablespoonsful. Mix, and give it in a quart of warm gruel, with a wine- glassful of gin or brandy. Ginger, Aniseed, Carraway, Flour of mustard, Salt of tartar, Oil of turpentine Treacle Cows afflicted with the milk fever require great care and good nursing: the stall where they live, must be well littered, and it is fre- quently necessary to cover them with a blanket, or some warm covering, when they are cold and shivering. The udder should be rubbed two or three times a day, for about half an hour each time, with soft soap, or pipe-clay, and cold spring water, which will assist in subduing the inflam- mation. The paps should also be drawn occasi- s3 2)0 THE COMPLETE onally, to encourage the flow of milk; and if the milk appear, it is a good sign. As they are fre- quently unable to take nourishment sufficient to support themselves, it will be essential to assist them. For this purpose give the following GRUEL. Make a stiff gruel, of an equal quantity of linseed in powder, and oatmeal, boiled in a sufficient quantity of water; and when new-milk warm, give the beast about two to four quarts, three or four times a day. The gruel may be sweetened with coarse sugar, or trea- cle ; and a little common salt may be added. Prevention— The best way to prevent this dis- ease, is to take four or five quarts of blood from the beast, about eight or ten days before her time of calving: let this be done at night, and keep her in a fold-yard till morning. The purging drink No. 5, should be given before the animal is put to grass; and this treatment, together with proper food, and none but pure water, will cool the body, and obviate the tendency to inflamma- tion in the udder. CATTLE-KEEPER. 211 Murrain, or Pestilential Fever, Is not a periodical disease, nor is it caused by improper feeding, or dependent on any of the causes which produce fevers or inflammations generally; it must rather be considered in the light of a plague, or pestilence, induced by the atmosphere being infected by the miasmata, that is, the injurious aguish air which arises from low, flat, and marsh districts and swampy lands : this seems evident from the fact, that it has raged most at those times when, and in those places where, inundations have most prevailed. The murrain was formerly considered a fatal disease; but of late years it has yielded to me- dicine and judicious management. It is very pestilential, and if one of the herd be attacked, it must instantly be removed from the others, or it will infect them all as certainly as the glanders do a horse. It takes place at all sea- sons, but rages most in summer and autumn. The fate of the beast is generally determined on the seventh day, although the danger is not over till the ninth. Bulls and oxen are not so vio- lently attacked as cows and calves; and cows with calf, or sickly cow-calves, suffer the most severely. 212 THE COMPLETE Symptoms. — The first appearance of murrain is indicated by a decrease of appetite; a poking out of the neck, as if there were some difficulty in swallowing its food; a shaking of the head, as if the ears were tickled; a hanging down of the ears,, and deafness; a dulness of the eyes, and a moving to and fro, in a constant uneasi- ness. All these signs, except the last, increase till the fourth day; then ensue a stupidity, and unwillingness to move, great debility, a total loss of appetite, a running at the eyes and nose, some- times sickness, and throwing up of bile, a husky cough, and shivering. The fever, which was continual the three first days, now rises, and increases towards the evening; the pulse is all along quick, contracted, and uneven. A constant diarrhosa, or scouring of foetid green excrement, a stinking breath, a nauseous steam from the skin, infect the air: the blood is very florid, hot, and frothy; their urine is high coloured; the roof of the mouth and the barbs are ulce- rated. Tumours, or boils, are to be felt under the fleshy membrane of the skin; and eruptions appear all along the limbs, and about the bags. If a milch cow, her milk dries up gradu- ally; her purging is more violent; and on the CATTLE- KEEPER. 213 fourth day she is commonly dry. There is a sharpness in the dung, so that the fundament is visibly irritated for some time. They groan much, are worse in the evening, and mostly when they lie down. These symptoms increase till the seventh day, about which time the crisis or turn takes place : whether for the better or worse, the following directions will readily determine: The favourable symptoms are, — eruptions all over the skin, or boils, as big as pigeon's eggs, in various parts of the body, but particularly from head to tail, along each side of the back- bone, and so ripe as to discharge putrid and stinking matter; large abscesses formed in the horns, or in any other parts of the body; the dung more consistent and hard ; the urine thick, and not quite so high coloured: a shivering fit, succeeded by a general glow of heat, upon which an abatement of the fever takes place, and a more regular pulse; the nose sore or scabbed; the eyes bright and brisk; and the animal, on the ap- proach of any one to its hovel, pricks up its ears, and will eat a little hay or peas offered it: these symptoms are a sure sign that the beast is out of danger. 214 THE COMPLETE Unfavourable symptoms. — But if, on the se- venth day, the boils are decreased in bulk, or disappear, and not break outwardly : if the scour- ing continue; if the breath be hot, while the body, limbs, and horns, are cold; if the groaning or difficulty of breathing be increased; if the running from the nose and eyes be lessened; if the eyes are dim and sunk into the head, with a perfect stupidity; if the urine be dark coloured; the pulse intermittent, and a cadaverous smell be observed, we may safely pronounce the creature to be near its end. Remedy. — As soon as the symptoms determine, or indeed, as soon as you have reason to expect that the beast is infected, remove it from the rest, and put it by itself into a house or shed, well ventilated. Then bleed it copiously, even to fainting; wash the body all over with water and vinegar, new- milk warm, to clear the skin from filth; rub it frequently, and it will derive much benefit by the pores being kept clean and open. Make a rowel* as soon as possible, in the dewlap, and keep it open until a complete cure *To do this properly, see directions in Appendix. CATTLE-KEEPER. 215 be effected; if the dung be hard, a cooling purge, (as No. 5, or No. 53,) should be given, and plenty of antiseptic drinks, as bran-water, vinegar, bit- ters, and salts, diluted with water: but no hay, until the beast be sufficiently recovered to chew the cud; wash the mouth and nostrils carefully and often; if a purging comes on by the fourth day, check it by warm medicines, which will throw the morbid matter off the skin, as snake- weed, or Venice treacle; or the following drink: RECIPE No. 56. Prepared chalk, four ounces; Powdered aniseeds, two ounces; Powdered ginger, one ounce; Opium, cut small, one dram. Mix, and give it in a quart of warm ale or gruel. If the colour of the mouth become dark, the creature cold, the dung dark and foetid, and the discharge from the mouth and nose thin, an ounce of jesuit's or oak bark, with snake -root, should be given every four hours, to prevent mortification. If matter be formed in the horns, or other part, an opening should be made, and digested by warm applications, or poultices. At 216 THE COMPLETE the crisis, if a purging occur, empty the bowels with a smart purge, and give a draught of warm ale at night. On recovery, the beast should be gradually exposed to cold air, and, by degrees, habituated to its usual food. Murrain, or Common Fever. Murrain, however, is not always so malignant, nor so rapid in its progress, nor so certainly fatal in its termination. This milder complaint may be considered as a nearer approach to com- mon fever, attended with local inflammation; and its symptoms may be characterized as follows:— Symptoms. — A shivering, and trembling of the limbs; want of appetite; cough or hoosing; sometimes accompanied with tears; the mouth affected with blisters, or white spots; in a milch cow, the secretion of milk is diminished. In a few days, the inflammation extends to the lungs; the pulse quick — about 60 in a minute; the muz- zle dry; the head, horns, and breath hot; the body and limbs cold. As the disease proceeds, these symptoms aggravate, and without prompt and proper care, terminate fatally. CATTLE-KEEPER. 217 Cure. — House the animal by itself, and bleed it copiously; in general, three bleedings are re- quisite, one each day. Set a seton* in the dew- lap, and keep it running for some time. Give the purging drink, No. 5, and repeat it occasion- ally. Keep the beast clean, by rubbing, and also by being well littered, and let it have meshes of scalded bran, or bruised malt, with a little ground corn or barley mixed. On the turn of the dis- ease, if the animal be low and debilitated, the restorative drink, No. 41, will be very useful. After-treatment ; or, eradication of' the disease. On the recovery of the animal, the cow-house, or place in which it was sheltered, should be made comfortable and very clean, but properly ventilated; all the litter must be burned; and if the disease was malignant, it will be necessary to fumigate the house, and every thing in it, with the following fumigation mixture : FUMIGATION MIXTURE. Common salt, two pounds; Oil of vitriol, one pound. * See the Appendix. T 218 THE COMPLETE Place the salt in an earthen vessel, in the middle of the cow-house, pour the acid gradually on it, stir it well about with a long stick, and immediately leave the place, and close the door. This fumigation should be done at least twice, at the removal of an infected beast, and on its recovery; and the stalls should be cleaned and lime-washed. All the cattle that die of the com- plaint must be buried at least five feet deep, to prevent the effluvia that would otherwise arise from the carcase, and inevitably spread the in- fection. INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS. Inflammation of the Brain, Phrenzy, or Mad Staggers, Is a most distressing complaint; it comes on gradually, but soon becomes ungovernable, and unless efficient help be afforded, invariably ter- minates in death. CATTLE KEEPER. 219 Cause. — In London, this disease is known by the name of madness, and is there brought on by the cruel and inhuman practice of over-driv- ing : but in the country, it most commonly pro- ceeds from a redundancy of blood in the system, induced by cattle thriving too fast on rich pas- ture grounds, or feeding them too quick to get them in high condition; it is also brought on by the intense heat of the sun, or by severe bruises on the head, or by being harassed or frightened. Symptoms. — The eyes appear inflamed, and ready to start from their sockets; a peculiar wildness manifests itself in the animal's looks, and it staggers when it moves. A perfect de- lirium or madness succeeds; and the beast, after furious exertions, sometimes falls down, and lies for some time, either senseless or struggling. It then starts up, repeats the same effects of un- governable madness as before; and again falls down suddenly, till at last it ends in death. In these paroxysms they will tear up the earth with their feet, and toss every thing up with their teeth or horns which comes in their way. Care. — In the early stage of this disorder, this is easy enough, — a copious bleeding, until the 220 THE COMPLETE animal faints, will then be sufficient; but if the disease has reached to an ungovernable height, there will be some difficulty in accomplishing this : still it must be done, or the animal will soon die. When the beast is secured, if the arteries cannot be opened, both neck veins should be opened as quickly as possible; for by keeping the neck corded without opening the vein, the danger is only increased. Repeat the bleeding, if necessary; give the following purge, and the cure will be effected. A bare pasture is a good restorative. RECIPE No. 57. Barbadoes aloes, twelve drams; Carbonate of potash, three drams : Glauber's salts, -seven ounces; Water, one quart. Mix, and give it at one dose. Inflammation of the Lungs, Peripneumony, or Pleurisy. This disorder, like most others, has several names, but the symptoms are plain and determi- nate; the most prompt care is essential; for when CATTLE-KEEPER. 221 inflammation once seizes the lungs, death, or at best, a lingering recovery, will be the result, unless speedy help be afforded. Cause. — Obstructed perspiration from sudden and great changes of weather, especially when •very wet; being drove a long distance, and then exposed to the cold and damp air of the night, particularly such beasts as are fat and in good condition. It is also brought on by keeping them too well, or by feeding them too hastily. Symptoms. — Difficulty of breathing, but quick and laborious, indicated by the quick motion of the flanks; this is often preceded by a cold shi- vering fit; the mouth is open, and a ropy kind of fluid frequently runs from it; a cough, or hoosing, accompanies the complaint. The ani- mal looks dull, and seldom lies down, as it can breathe best in the standing posture; the head and ears hang downward; the horns, especially about the roots, are hot and feverish; and the animal has no appetite. At first, the pulse is low, but soon rises, particularly after bleeding, and beats from 60 to "JO in a minute. t 3 222 THE COMPLETE Cure. — Copious bleeding is the remedy most to be depended upon. The beast must be put into a cool cow-house, well littered, and bled freely, even till fainting; and this must be re- peated after an interval of eight hours, if the difficulty of breathing and other inflammatory symptoms are not much relieved. A third, or even fourth bleeding may be necessary, but not in such copious quantities, about two quarts being then amply sufficient. The following pur- gative drink should be administered between the bleedings : RECIPE No. 58. Epsom salts, twelve ounces; Nitre, one ounce; Elecampane, one ounce. Put the ingredients into a pitcher, pour three pints of boiling water upon them, and give when new-milk warm. This may be repeated every third day, if ne- cessary. When the animal has recovered, avoid as much as possible, all the causes which induced the complaint; house it (particularly if a cow, dur- ing the night, for a short time; and when you CATTLE-KEEPER. 223 turn it out to feed, let it be to a bare pasture, where it must for a short time use good exercise in obtaining a bellyful of grass. Give it also, occasionally, eight to twelve ounces of Epsom or Glauber's salts. Care must be taken to get them up again by feeding very gradually, or a relapse will be the consequence. Catarrh, Fellon, Cold, Epidemic Fever, Influenza, or Distemper. All these are the names of one distemper, and that a cold, which prevails most in the spring of the year, when the wind is easterly, and the weather wet and cold. It is also caused by sud- den changes from heat to cold, or the contrary; drinking freely of cold water, after being heated by exercise or over driving. Sometimes it comes on without any perceptible cause, and prevails in so great and so malignant a degree, as to appear contagious. Symptoms. — The beast appears dull and heavy, with weeping eyes; the nose is dry; the coat looks staring, the hair seeming to stand the wrong 224 way on the animal's back; loss of appetite; and if a milch-cow, her milk is much lessened in qua- lity, or she is said to trick of her milk. If the hand be pressed upon the chine, or any part of the back, the animal mostly gives way : it is then called the chine fellon: at other times, the joints are more particularly affected, it is then termed the joint fellon. When the cold is more violent, feverish symptoms appear; the breathing be- comes more rapid and difficult; the flanks work much, the animal hooses, the pulse is quick, the nose and mouth dry, and the breath hot: the beast becomes restless; moves from one place to another in evident distress; and the bowels be- come costive. Inflammation of the lungs or bowels may now be said to be produced. Cause. — The causes of cold are various, and have been generally described; we may add, that those cattle are most liable to be attacked which have been tenderly brought up^.or that have been poorly fed, or exposed to cold, damp, or piercing winds. Cows after calving are also very subject to colds. Cure. — Where the feverish or inflammatory CATTLE-KEEPER. 225 symptoms have not yet appeared, a warm, cor- dial drink, as the following, will, by acting as a stimulant to the stomach, assist the defective digestive energy, and (in the cow) increase the secretion of milk; it also restores the obstructed perspiration, and enables nature to resume her former course: RECIPE No. 59. (CORDIAL DRINK.) Sweet fennel seeds, fresh powdered, two ounces ; Cummin seeds, ditto two ounces; Long pepper, ditto one ounce ; Turmeric, ditto one ounce; Ginger, ditto one ounce ; Elecampane ditto one ounce; Treacle, or coarse sugar, two ounces. Mix in a quart of ale, poured boiling hot upon the whole in a pitcher; cover down till new-milk warm, and then give it at once. Or, No. 39, may be given, mixed in a similar manner. These drinks will effect a cure, occasionally repeated, if no feverish symptoms ensue; but if they do, a free bleeding must be applied to, and repeated, if necessary; and the treatment should be the same as for inflammation generally. 226 THE COMPLETE Inflammation of the Stomach, Is a serious disorder, and takes place in various degrees, each varying in its symptoms, but all of them bearing sufficient resemblance to each other to determine the complaint. A certain degree of inflammation in this important organ will cause an alteration in the milk, and when it arrives at the udder, it will irritate and inflame it, and cause the milk drawn off, to be thin, yel- lowish, and stringy. This sometimes has an offensive smell, and even assumes the appearance of matter, and at others a reddish look, as if blood were mixed with it. Cause. — When the stomach is oppressed by too much food, the digestive process is sus- pended, the food ferments, and a quantity of air is extricated, which distends and inflames the stomach. It differs from the disease termed hoven, or blast, that being an affection of the rumen or first stomach ; while in this it is the fourth. Unwholesome food is the most common source of this disease, bad hay having generally too much of the' fibrous parts, which lodge in CATTLE-KEEPER. 227 the third stomach, and unless they are soon dis- lodged, induce inflammation of the stomach. Symptoms. — Heaviness, dulness, and loss of appetite; the lungs are affected; the breathing disturbed; and sometimes accompanied by a hoose, or cough : the milk of the cow is affected, both in quality and quantity; and the animal is in great and evident pain. Cure — Bleeding is the first remedy in this as in all other inflammations; which must be done copiously; especially when it has been accus- tomed to good pasture; and then a saline open- ing drench may be given : RECIPE No. 60. SALINE OPENING DRENCH. Epsom salts, ten ounces; Carbonate of soda, twelve drams : Water, one quart; Castor oil, six ounces. Mix, and give it. Where it has arisen from feeding on bad hay, the following is decidedly the best drink: 228 THE COMPLETE RECIPE No. 61. Barbadoes aloes, Powdered ginger, Water, Epsom salts, six drams; a dram and a half; one quart; six ounces; Carbonate of soda, six drams; Tincture of opium, six drams. Mix for one draught. Whey., or thin bran meshes, are perhaps the best food, while the beast is under cure; drink- ing freely of water, slightly warmed, will assist in clearing the third stomach, and a clyster thrown up will be of advantage: light, good food, perfectly easy of digestion, must be at first care- fully observed, and when the stomach is cleared, the animal may be kept better; but this must be done cautiously, as it will take some little time to restore the digestive system to its wonted energy. Inflammation of the Heart. Js generally attended with symptoms of inflamed lungs, and sometimes with pain in the bowels; CATTLE -KEEPER. 229 it may, in short, be considered as general in- flammation. Cause. — This inflammation is generally brought on by the animal drinking cold water when over driven, or heated by exercise, although this is more likely to produce inflammation in the sto- mach and bowels; it is also occasioned by over- driving cattle when too well fed and unaccus- tomed to exercise. Symptoms.— Much the same as. in inflamed lungs, except that the symptoms are more violent, and the beast in more evident distress; but this may arise from the animal, subject to this com- plaint, being generally in full flesh and fat. Cure.— Copious bleedings, repeated at inter- vals of six or eight hours, to fainting, and keep- ing the animal cool and quiet, are the only reme- dies to be depended upon; and Avhen the animal is a little recovered, it should be fed on thin bran meshes, or whey; and when it is capable of being again turned out, good, sweet, short grass, should be afforded it. u 230 THE COMPLETE Inflammation of the Kidneys. The kidneys of neat cattle are predisposed to this disease by the vessels of that region being previously relaxed: the immediate or exciting cause of acute inflammation in the kidneys, are, blows on the loins, strains, or violent exertions, as by one animal riding or mounting on another while in heat, as well as by a superabundant determination of blood to the region of the kidneys; and nearly resembles, in this respect, red water. Symptoms.— A frequent desire to void urine, which is done with difficulty, and in small quan- tities. And, instead of being transparent, and nearly limped, it is bloody, or dark-coloured. Cure.— Bleeding freely, is the first remedy, and then the saline opening drench, (recipe No. 42,) may be administered. If the urine continues bloody, or of a red colour, after the pain and difficulty are gone off, give the astrin- gent drench, (recipe No. 32). The state of the bowels, however, must be attended to, and cos- CATTLE-KEEPER. 231 tiveness avoided, or removed when it takes place. Good, light, nourishing food is also essential to perfecting a cure. Inflammation of the Bowels. This disease is the second or inflammatory state of the complaint called blasting, or hoven ; and requires prompt and efficient relief, or it inevitably and speedily terminates fatally. Symptoms. — The animal first appears uneasy, and loses its appetite; the body swells, mostly on the left side ; as the pain increases, a greater restlessness comes on; the beast now often lies down, but soon rising again, strives to strike its belly with its hind feet or horns: if relief be not soon afforded, the bowels become so greatly dis- tended by confined air from the undigested food, that they sometimes burst ; or, the inflammation increasing, the breathing becomes more dis- turbed, the pulse quicker, and the pain more violent ; mortification ensues, and death is then the inevitable result. Cause. — Improper feeding, as unbroken or un- 232 THE COMPLETE bruised grain, particularly oats ; or excessive, or more than usually nutritious food, so that the animal gorges more at one time than the sto- mach is capable of digesting; or being turned into pastures more luxurious than previously: either of these will often produce indigestion and flatulency; and, if not timely attended to, occasion all the above distressing symptoms. Remedy. — Bleed; if the animal be in good condition, and the horns hot, do it freely, even till it faints; then mix and give the drench: — (recipe No. 31). The following clyster may be added; and if the animal be turned into a field bare of pasture to exercise itself, the cure may be considered as effected. RECIPE No. 62. Table salt, eight ounces; Water, four quarts. Where the attack is but slight, and quickly attended to, the bleeding may be omitted. C ATT LE-KEEPER . 233 Inflammation of the Liver. When the liver becomes inflamed, the biliary secretions are diminished, and less bile flowing into the intestines, not only causes costiveness, but the bile being taken up in the circulating mass of blood, produces a yellowness of the eyes and other parts of the body; differing from the yellows, in being accompanied with costive- ness and feverish symptoms. Causes. — Fat beasts, in good condition, are most subject to this disease, particularly in the summer ; being worried and driven about by boys or dogs in very hot weather ; drinking cold water while heated ; exposed to cold and heat, the one suddenly succeeding the other. Symptoms. — Cold shiverings alternating with increased heat of the body ; breathing short, in- dicated by the working of the flanks; pulse quick ; the white of the eyes, mouth, and other parts of a yellow cast; the bowels costive; and the appetite lost. Cure. — It would be little consequence whe- u3 234 THE COMPLETE ther this disease be mistaken for inflammation of the lungs, or severe catarrh, which is often the case, from its peculiar characteristics, the yellow tinge of the eyes not always appearing at the commencement of the complaint, as the bleed- ing and purging adopted for the cure of those disorders are equally effective in this : indeed, the same curative process may invariably be pur- sued in this case as is there described. Inflammation of the Spleen or Milt. This disorder is as acute as any of the inflam- matory class, generally destroying the affected animal in three or four days. It usually hap- pens in very hot and dry weather, and is sup- posed to arise from an immoderate indulgence in slaking the thirst of animals at such a period. To avoid this disease, cattle should, in hot wea- ther, be driven, particularly at night, to some high situation, where these is only a moderate quantity of grass, and no water. Symptoms and Cure. — Both the symptoms and cure so much resemble what has been said under the head of inflammation of the liver, that we cannot do better than refer our reader thereto. — 1 CATTLE- KEEPER . 235 This is, however, a severe attack, and more dangerous in its consequences ; and therefore demands very prompt and effective remedies. Inflammation of the Womb. See Puerperal or Milk Fever. Inflammation of the Shape. Cows are liable to this complaint, particularly in the summer season. It most commonly at- tacks cows in high condition, and arises from the system being oppressed by a redundancy of blood. Cause. — In addition to the above causes, this disease may arise from cows taking cold in calv- ing; it also sometimes occurs after bulling, par- ticularly where the bull is infected with the dis- ease termed bull-burnt, which see. Symptoms. —The shape is considerably irri- tated, which is evident from the actions of the beast ; the shape is swollen ; and boils frequently break out about the barren, which break and 236 THE COMPLETE discharge : and when the inflammation extends, a considerable quantity of glairy fluid discharge from the sheath, or vagina. Cure. — Bleed the cow copiously, and again the next day, but in less quantity: then give her the drink No. 28, or 29, as there directed ; and repeat it on the third day, if necessary. Bathe the tumified parts and the shape two or three times a day with the following lotion: RECIPE No. 63. Goulard's extract, two ounces; Spirits of wine, one ounce; Rain water, one quart; Mix the goulard and spirits of wine first in a bottle, add the water, and keep it well stopped. — Shake it be- fore using. If this disease should have been caused by her taking the bull, the following injection will be useful to stop the glainy running from the sheath : — CATTLE-KEEPER. 237 RECIPE No. 64. Alum, in powder, eight drams ; Blue vitriol, do. eight drams ; Boiling water, one quart; Mix, and when cold, it is fit for use. Continue to use both the lotion and injection so long as the inflammation and glairy discharge continue. Inflammation of the Eye. Arises sometimes from a redundancy of blood in the system, and the animal catching cold while in that state; and sometimes it is caused by ex- ternal wounds and bruises, or brought on by any substance getting into the eye, and irritat- ing it. Symptoms. — Redness of the eye, with the haw drawn as much as possible over the affected part, and the lids constantly closing : the eye- lids are also swollen, tears run down the cheeks, and a discharge is emitted from the internal an- gle of the affected eye. 238 THE COMPLETE Cure. — When the inflammation runs high, take three or four quarts of blood, and give the cooling purging drink, No. 53; then put the beast in a shady house, and apply the following lotion to the inflamed eye : — RECIPE No. 65. Spirits of wine and camphor, ^ 1 Qne ounce . (or camphorated spirits of wine, J Goulard's extract, one ounce; Spring- water, one quart ; Mix, and shake the bottle when used. Apply it with a clean linen rag for about fifteen minutes two or three times a day: slightly open the eyelid now and then, and inject a little of the lotion into the eye. Cancer of the Eye, Is not properly an internal complaint; but often originating from one ; for when an inflam- mation of the eye has been neglected, or impro- perly treated, particularly when it originated from a blow, it often terminates in a cancer of the eye; which being somewhat of the nature of scrophula in the human subject, will, if not checked, destroy the eye, and affect even the CATTLE-KEEPER. 239 bones themselves. It also arises from poor liv- ing, and other similar causes, which induce a peculiar state of the constitution. Symptoms. — The globe of the eye appears dull, and lessened in bulk; an offensive fluid is dis- charged from it, which is so acrid, that it de- stroys the skin from the part, over which it runs. The eyes are swollen and ulcerated, and sometimes appear almost glued together. Cure.— Bleed, and give the purging driak, No. 5, which may be repeated every third day, if necessary; then make the following ointment, and apply it to the eye. RECIPE No. 66. Red precipitate, finely ground, two scruples, Spermaceti ointment, eight drams; Mix, and put it to the eye morning and evening, by means of a feather. Quarter 111, Black Leg, Black Quarter, Shoot of Blood, ifc. The disease known under the above names is somewhat similar to murrain, except that this is 240 THE COMPLETE almost peculiar to young cattle, from one to two years old, and is a very dangerous and destruc- tive disorder. Cause. — Quarter ill, or black-leg, is almost always caused by putting or removing young- stock from poor low grounds into rich pastures : tempted by the luxuriance of the change, they eat to satiety, an superabundance of blood is the consequence ; and, although the kidneys and other vital parts resist for awhile the influx, the heart and lungs are at last suffocated. Symptoms — The approach of this disorder is observed, by the animal separating itself from its companions, appearing listless, heavy, and rejecting its food; it often, however, comes on so suddenly, that the owner finds the animal dead before he has even suspecting any thing amiss. The immediate symptoms of this dis- ease are, — a lame walk, as if sprained, with a swelling of the hind quarters, and sometimes of the shoulders and fore parts. These swellings, when pressed, make a crackling noise, occa- sioned by the air therein being acted upon by a putrid state of the blood. The mouth, and un- CATTLE -KEEPER. 241 der the tongue, are sometimes affected with blist- ers, from the severity of the fever, and the pulse is quicker than natural. Cure. — This disease rarely admits of cure ; it may, however, fortunately, be prevented, as is evident from what we have said of its cause. — • The moment you see a young animal attacked, house it, and bleed it copiously. This is the only remedy, and nothing short of fainting will prove that you have bled it freely enough. Never mind the quantity — bleed till it faints. Two hours after, give the following drink : RECIPE No. 67„ Epsom salts, six ounces ; (If not at hand, table salt may be substituted ;) Water, (hot, almost boiling) one quart : Mix, and give it when new milk warm. It rarely happens, that a cure is effected in this disease where the swelling has taken place ; as, however, such is sometimes the case, it is well worth the trial, even in the most desperate case. The tumified or swelled parts should have an incision made the whole length of the swell- x 242 THE COMPLETE ing, and nitre put into the opening, with pledg- ets of tow soaked in hot spirits of turpentine, to encourage the formation of matter, and check the progress of the gangrene. These dressings must be renewed every day. Prevention. — We have said this dreadful dis* ease may be altogether prevented, and perhaps, it is more desirable to be informed how, than to know how to cure it. Young cattle that thrive best, are most subject to this complaint, and should be most watched. As soon as any one of the herd is attacked, remove it and put it by itself while under the curative process : in the evening bring them all into the fold-yard, take about two quarts of blood from each, give them the drink No, 67, and, next morning, turn them out in a bare pasture. — By this means young animals may be preserved from this rava- ging complaint. CATTLE- KEEPER. 243 EXTERNAL DISEASES, WOUNDS, AND BRUISES. Chronic Rhumatism, called also Chine Fellon, and Joint Fellon. This disease is generally the resut of a neglected catarrh, settling in the hack or joints, and is attended with weakness and loss of flesh. — Symptoms— For the first few days, the animal appears only stiff in the joints; hut afterwards it begins to swell, and become painful, especially when the beast attempts to move. Sometimes the stiffness extends all over the body, to such a degree, that it cannot lie down or get up again, without assistance. Cure.— First remove the animal to a sheltered situation, and rub the swollen joints with neats'- foot oil, or an embrocation made as follows : RECIPE No. 68. Sweet oil, Oil of turpentine, four ounces; two ounces: — Mix. 244 THE COMPLETE The drench (recipe No. 31) is the best that can possibly be given; and should it appear ne- cessary to do any more, repeat the embrocation rubbing, and give it half a pint of good ale or beer, warm, with a little ginger, morning and evening. Joint Yellows, or Tail-rot. This disease is of the consumptive kind, and arising from causes similar to the preceding, and can, like that, be remedied only by change of situation and food, a warm sheltered field, or, in cold weather, a warm cow-house, with straw to lie down on, and bran meshes with a little bruised malt, and a moderate quantity of good hay. Symptoms.— Inability to lift the tail in dung- ing or making water, in consequence of which the tail and hind parts become very filthy, and covered with dung: there is also a tenderness about the loins, and about the rump, and a tight- ness of the skin covering those parts. A ridicu- lous idea prevails with some cow-doctors, that there is a worm in the tail; and, under this silly supposition, they make an incision into the part where there is most weakness, or where the CATTLE-KEEPER. 245 joints appear loosest. In a day or two, this sore becomes painful, and induces the animal to make an exertion. This they pronounce a cure; how falsely so, the result too often proves. C U re.—lf this disease be taken in time, the cure is easy, and costs but little. First, gently wash the part affected with clean water, and re- move all the dirt and filth; then bathe it with the cooling lotion No. 65, and administer a gen- tle cooling purge, as No. 31, or No. 5, and afterwards a cordial astringent drench, as No. 32 i in treatment, the directions given for the cure of chronic rheumatism may be also followed in this ; and if the beast be in good condition, and symptoms of inflammation appear, take away about three quarts of blood. Locked- J aw, Is generally the effect of wounds, either of the head, horns, or extremities; or brought on by eating poisonous herbs or insects, by which the whole nervous system is affected, and some- times extends over the whole body. x 3 246 THE COMPLETE Symptoms — A sudden stagnation and contrac- tion of almost the whole muscular system; every muscle appears seized at once, and the jaws are so fast closed, as very often to require an instru- ment to force them open, at the time of giving medicine; the eyes appear to glisten, and fixed in their orbits, with a very peculiar anxiety -wrought upon them; and the breathing is af- fected. Cure. — Rub the jaws as well as the muscles of the neck, when affected, with some linament, and then cover them with a fresh sheeps'-skin, with the flesh side inwards, to keep up a copi- ous perspiration; or if this cannot be obtained, a warm blanket may be used. Give the animal a saline cooling draught, as No. 5, or No. 31, and hasten its effects by a clyster. If the dis- ease be difficult to subdue, throw two or three pails of water over the beast, and then rub its sides down, till dry, with a whisp of straw.— If it be in summer, let the water be cold; but if it be in winter, let it then be warm. If the dis- ease originated from a poisonous herb or in- sect, bleed copiously, if the animal be in good condition, and repeat the operation, if necessary. CATTLE-KEEPElt. 247 Wounds. Wounds are generally caused by their goring each other with their horns, or by breaking over fences } and, when deep and extensive, are fol- lowed by inflammation. The treatment of these wounds, although mystified by farriers, is very simple; too often, when the wound is consider- able, and some important part injured, the irri- tating treatment adopted, destroys the animal; and in less severe cases, stimulating applica- tions are highly improper. In deep or extensive wounds, particularly in the belly, chest, or joints, the most effectual means are necessary, to prevent a fatal inflam- mation. — Bleeding freely, cleansing the wound, and bathing it with a cooling lotion (as No. 65) and administering a laxative medicine, as No. 5, or 31, are the first remedies; and afterwards emollient fomentations. When the inflamma- tion has subsided, and the wound discharges good matter, a tent of digestive ointment may be introduced daily, that it may heal from the bottom. If the opening be small, and the mat- ter has not free vent, it should be so enlarged, 248 THE COMPLETE that no hollow part may remain, by which the matter may be confined. When a wound bleeds considerably, there is little danger; but when necessary to sfop it, pressure is the most effectual means. When the belly has been wounded, and the bowels obtrude, they must be very carefully put back again, and the dirt, if any, be washed off, but with warm water only : the wound should then be stitched up, but with few stitches ; and a bandage should be applied, as a further security. Wounds of less consequence are easily cured, a little lotion to bathe the part affected, and a gentle purgative, with bleeding, if inflammation be present, will generally prove amply sufficient. Poultices are useful in assisting to heal bruises or wounds, but care must be used in their appli- cation ; for instance, they must only be applied after the fart affected has been well bathed and cleansed, and then the simplest are the best. Bread and water poultices are most useful where the wound is angry, and difficult to heal from the presence of some foreign body within it, as thorns, splinters, or the like. Linseed-meal poultices are best where a ga- thering has taken place, and should be drawn CATT.LE-KEEPER. 249 to a head, that the matter therein may be dis- charged. Marshmallow ointment, or spermaceti ointment are both very useful in healing flesh wounds, or places that have gathered, and discharged. Strains and Bruises. Where considerable, bleeding is essential: af- terwards apply a fomentation of very warm water, and an emollient ointment. In situations that will admit of it, an emollient poultice is to be preferred. When the inflammation has sub- sided, the following embrocation may be ap- plied ; which is equally good for wounds. RECIPE No. 69.— Embrocation. Sweet oil, ' two ounces; Oil of turpentine, one ounce; Liquid ammonia, one ounces; RECIPE No. 70. — Digestive ointment. Hog's lard, four ounces ; Turpentine, four ounces; Powdered verdigris, one ounce : Melt the two first over the fire, and while stirring it add the verdigris ; continue to stir it after taking from the fire till the ointment be cold. 250 THE COMPLETE Foul in the Foot, Loe, or Low, Proceeds either from the fulness of habit of body, or redundancy of blood in the system; from being on wet grounds, or from hard driv- ing. Neat cattle are very liable to this com- plaint; but cows of a gross habit of body suffer most from it. . Symptoms.— It first makes its appearance be- twixt the claws or hoofs in the form of a hard crack, attended sometimes with inflammation; m a short time this discharges a fetid and offen- sive matter, similar to that of the grease in horses' heels. At other times, it makes its ap- pearance with swelling upon the cornet between the hair and the hoof, and about the fetlock-joint, attended with violent pain and inflammation; the swelling sometimes extending all up the leg, and the pain so considerable, as to reduce the beast of its flesh till it becomes a mere skeleton. Cure.— Bleed copiously, or until the animal faints ; if sufficient blood can be taken from the toe, by opening the artery going to that part, it CATTLE-KEEPER. 251 will quickly and readily afford relief. If the dis- ease first make its appearance between the claws, wash the part clean from all dirt and filthiness; when dry rub a tar rope to and fro between the claws of the hoof, till an evident glow of warmth is produced; then dress the part with a wooden skewer dipped in butter of antimony, oil of vitriol, or nitrous acid. Let them stand dry one hour after, and then turn them on a dry pas- ture. — Do this for two or three days together ; but if the parts about the fetlock- joints swell, and appear inflamed, apply a large poultice of linseed meal, bean-meal, or rye-flour, and con- tinue to do so until the inflammation and swell- ing be reduced. The cure of this disease will be considered accelerated, if the following saline purgative be administered : Put the ingredients into a pitcher, and pour upon them three pints of boiling-water ; when of a new milk warmth, give it at one dose. RECIPE No. 71. Glauber's salts, Ginger, powdered, Treacle, one pound; two ounces; four ounces : 252 THE COMPLETE The following is an excellent ointment with which the wound in the foot may be dressed: RECIPE No. 72. Hogs'-lard, two ounces ; Common turpentine, four ounces; Blue vitriol, very finely powdered half an ounce : Melt the lard and turpentine together ; and when re- moved from the fire, stir in the blue vitriol: continue stirring till cold, and it is fit for use. The Mange, Is seated in the skin, and proceeds, generally, from scanty or improper food, during the winter; it makes its appearance early in the spring. The itching occasioned by this disease causes the animal to rub itself against the trees, or gates, until the hair be rubbed off, and the skin thick- ened, and drawn into folds about the shoulders, neck, or cheek. The best situation for beasts so affected, is a field where the pasture is rather bare. Si/mploms. — The skin, or hide, appears fast on all parts of the body; and every time the beasts CATTLE KEEPER. 253 rub themselves, the hair comes off, and a thick white scurf, of a scabby appearance, is to be seen a short time after. Cure. —The parts affected must be well rubbed with the following ointment, every third or fourth day, for about three times. Rub it in under a warm shade, when the sun is out; or, if done in the cow-house, hold a heated iron at a proper distance, whilst another person rubs it on. — The effect of the medicine will thus be improved; and in slight cases, one dressing will be sufficient. Inveterate cases will require it to be well rubbed in with a hard brush; the parts being previously curried with an old curry-comb. RECIPE No. 73. Hog's lard, eight ounces; Spirit of turpentine, two ounces; Flowers of sulphur, four ounces; Sulphur vivum two ounces. The following drink will, by promoting the suspended secretions, very much accelerate the cure. 254 THE COMPLETE RECIPE No. 74. Carraway seeds, in powder, two ounces; Aniseeds, ditto, two ounces; Grains of paradise, ditto, one ounce; Nitre, ditto, one ounce; Flowers of sulphur, two ounces; Crude antimony, in fine powder, half an oz. ; Treacle, four table-spoonsful. Mix it in a quart of warm ale, and give it at one . dose. If the disease be of an inveterate nature, this dose must be repeated. Warbles, Worms, fyc. Are small tumours, which, in the spring of the year, and in summer, appear in various parts of the body of neat cattle. They are occasioned by the bite of a gad-fly, which punctures a small hole in the back of horned cattle, and therein deposits its eggs. These, being speedily hatched by the heat of the animal's body, a small tumor arises, containing a grub, or maggot, which in- flames the part, and thereby causes matter to form. In process of time, this abscess bursts, and discharges the maggot, which now soon CATTLE-KEEPER. 255 becomes a fly; that, in due time, deposits its eggs on the skin of the animal, like its parent. Cure — The usual way of curing the warbles, is to pull off the scab that covers the tumour; and pour a few drops of black oil, made accord- ing to the following directions, into the wound: or where this is not in readiness, a little spirits of turpentine may be applied. RECIPE No. 75. Yellow basilicon ointment, four ounces; Spirits of turpentine, one ounce; Oil of vitriol, half a dram. First mix the ointment and turpentine together, and afterwards add, by a little at a time, the oil of vitriol ; keeping it constantly stirred until well incorporated. It is then fit for use. Cancellous Ulcers, Appear chiefly on the glandular parts of the body; but those on the cheeks, eye-lids, and on the glands between the jaw-bones, are the most difficult to heal of all the ulcers to which neat cattle are liable; indeed, some of them baffle all the powers of medicine. 256 THE COMPLETE Symptoms. — These ulcers make their first ap- pearance in a hard tumour, seated in some glan- dulous parts of the body. Some of these are moveable; others, fixed: some are inflamed, and quickly break out, and discharge a thin acrid matter; others discharge a thin yellow matter, and the wounds are apt to fill up with fungous, or proud flesh. Remedy. — The curative process depends much on the part of the glands where the ulcer is seated. There are some parts which will admit of a total extirpation; which may be done with a suitable knife, or, if preferred, by actual cau- tery. When the wound is thoroughly cleansed from all extraneous matter, let it be touched all over with lunar caustic, or sprinkled with red precipitate; and afterwards dress it with the following: — RECIPE No. 76. Egyptiacum, two ounces; Compound tincture of myrrh, one ounce ; Spirits of turpentine, one ounce; Sublimate, finely powdered, one dram; Spirit of salt, four drams. Mix, and keep it in a bottle for use. CATTLE-KEEPEU. 257 Dress the wound with small pledgets of lint or tow, dipped in the above mixture, once a day : and if any superfluous flesh appear, keep it down with caustic; or before dressing, sprinkle the wound all over with blue vitriol. When the wound has been well cleansed, and the acrid discharge has stopped, make a fresh ointment as follows: RECIPE No. 77. Yellow basilicon ointment, four ounces; Spirits of turpentine, one ounce. Mix, and keep it in a pot for use. With a wooden spatula well mix one part of this linament, (No. 77?) with two parts of the ointment, No. 76; and with this mixture dress the wound once or twice a day till healed. A purgative medicine occasionally adminis- tered, will hasten the cure, as by that means, the quantity of blood determined to the affected part will be purified and lessened, and the oint- ment dressing will then act more powerfully on the wound. No. 71 is a very useful recipe for this purpose. y3 258 THE COMPLETE Angle Berries, or Worts. Young heifers, or cow-calves of the first or second years, are most subject to these excres- cences, which are cutaneous eruptions, or tu- mours, growing out above the surface of the skin, in various parts of the body, and have a very disagreeable appearance. When they proceed from the udder, they are not only disagreeable, but ultimately cause the cow to be very troublesome to milk. They rise from a small base, and hang in a pendulous form. Some farmers tie a string tightly round the base, close to the skin, and thus suffer them to rot off of themselves : others secure them with a strong binding of twine, and then cut them off with a sharp knife, afterwards dressing the wound with oil of vitriol. If, however, they are attended to in time, which is by far the best plan, they may be destroyed by touching them a few times with the end of a thick stick dipped in strong aqua fortis, or, as it is termed by the chemists, nitric acid. CATT LB-KEEPER. 25.9 Sore Teats. Some cows are very subject to sore teats, particularly such as have newly calved ; if this be the case in summer, they often become ulcer- ated, and the flies plague them to a degree which renders them extremely difficult to milk: it is also a great nuisance at the time of milking, as blood and corrupt matter are apt to pass between the fingers into the milk. The following linament is very useful for anointing sore teats, and should always be kept in readiness for use : RECIPE No. 78. Ointment of elder, four ounces; Yellow basilicon ointment, four ounces ; Spirits of turpentine, one ounce. Mix, and well incorporate them together" on a slab, and it is fit for use. With this ointment you may well rub the cow's teats every night and morning, after milk- ing. If in the summer, and the flies be trouble- some, add one ounce of assafostida, or aloes, in 260 THE COMPLETE powder, and dissolve it along with the ointment. This will prevent the flies from teazing the animal. If the teats be tender, only, and not sore, a little gentle rubbing with weak salt and water will, in general, be sufficient. Lice in Cattle, Are troublesome, and in their effects cause the animal to be poor in flesh and appearance. One or two washings with the following lotion, ap- plied with a sponge, at an interval of five or six days, will generally remove those troublesome visitors : — RECIPE No. 79. Stavesacre, four ounces; Tobacco, cut small, one ounce; Urine, two quarts. Boil it till reduced one-third in quantity, and when cool it is fit for use. If this do not effectual succeed, dust common Scotch snuff on the animal, and when a cure is effected, give it a good rubbing with a whisp of straw. CATTLE- KEEPER. 261 MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS. Poisons Proceed from various causes, mostly during the summer season, and generally from eating some poisonous vegetables, as the yew-tree, hemlock, the several kinds of crowsfoot, or drinking stag- nated water, swarming with a great variety of insects, many of which are of a very hurtful nature. Symptoms. — A violent pain and sickness at the stomach; the body frequently swells to a prodi- gious size, attended with giddiness and stupidity; eating the yew-tree will sometimes induce mad- ness; but from whatever source the poison may have been taken, it generally proves fatal in a short time, if suitable remedies are not promptly made use of. Cure. — As soon as you suspect any of your animals to be poisoned, bleed it freely, and ad- minister the drink, No. J\ , with the addition of 262 THE COMPLETE one ounce of salt of tartar. If the body swell much, have recourse to the probang, as recom- mended for the cure of cattle, when hoven, or blown. This will give instant relief, by giving vent to the foul air; particularly if the poison proceed from eating any vegetable production. It will also be generally necessary to add to the preceding treatment the following drink, to neutralise the effects of the poison. A clyster is also useful in removing any obstruction in the bowels. RECIPE No. 80. Prepared kali, (or salt of tartar,) one ounce ; Castor oil, (or olive oil), four ounces; Tincture of opium, half an ounce. Mix, and give it in a quart of warm gruel; If it should be ftrand necessary, this may be repeated, daily, until the animal be relieved. Bite of Venemous Reptiles. Neat cattle are more liable to be stung by vipers or adders than any other domestic ani- mals, and their bite is sometimes attended with CATTLE-KEEPER. 263 dangerous consequences. — Indeed instances have been known of their proving mortal. The stings of several insects are also attended with con- siderable pain and inflammation ; and, although not so serious in their results, require a simi- lar treatment. Cure. — Well rub the parts affected with the following linament two or three times a day, until the inflammation and swelling abate. RECIPE No. 81. Olive oil, half a pint ; Strong spirits of hartshorn, four ounces ,- Spirits of turpentine, four ounces : Mix them well together by shaking in a bottle, and shake them well every time they are used. In some cases, that are more dangerous than others, the parts affected, particularly about the head, should be fomented two or three times a day with the following fomentation^ or with warm water : — RECIPE No. 82. Bruised white poppy heads, eight ounces; Camomile flowers, four ounces : Boil these a short time in about two gallons of water, and then strain it off for use. 264 THE COMPLETE Let the fomentation be quite warm ; and after using it rub in the linament described in recipe No. 81. If any feverish symptoms appear, (as will be the case in warm weather, take from the animal two or three quarts of blood, and, a few hours after, give the purging draught, No. 71- And if the animal appear weals or much reduced by bleeding or purging, give it the cordial drink, No. 39, and if an ounce of strong spirits of hartshorn be added to the cordial drink, it will be the better. Bull Burnt. This is a local disease, evidently of a venereal nature, affecting the sheath and penis or yard of the bull ; the parts becoming swollen, tender, and full of small ulcers ; there is also a dis- charge of matter from the yard, and the animal in staling seems to suffer considerable pain. If while in this state the bull have access to the cows, he will communicate the disease, the va- gina and shape of the cow will soon be affected, the parts will inflame and swell, and a discharge of disagreeable, ichorous matter will take place. CATTLE- KEEPER. 265 Cure. — The most effectual way of curing this disease in the bull, is to throw him down, and turn him on his back, with his belly upwards. Take a linen cloth, fold it round his yard, and gently draw it out of its sheath, so that you can bathe and wash all the ulcerated parts with the following lotion : RECIPE No. 83. Goulard's extract of lead, two ounces; Camphorated spirits of wine, two ounces ; Rain, or soft water, half a pinU Mix, and keep it in a bottle for use. Take care that in every dressing, which should be done at least twice a week, every part is pro- perly bathed with the mixture. Of course, he- must be kept from the cows till well. If the disease should have been some time on the bull, it will be necessary to use a more power- ful mixture; as the following: RECIPE No. 84. Sugar of lead, white vitriol, blue vitriol, and bole armenic, of each, half an ounce ; Boiling water, one pint : Mix, shake it well ; and when new milk warm, put it: into a bottle for use. Z; 266 THE COMPLETE This a powerful lotion — too strong, indeed, to be used as a first application; it may, however, be used afterwards with perfect safety. As the bull gets better, give him a cooling purging draught, as No. 7'? once a week, and repeat it two or three times. To cure the cow. — The lotion, No. 83, is quite strong enough — No. 84 is much too powerful. — Bathe the infected parts with a linen rag soaked in the lotion, and folding it round the finger, intro- duce it thus up the vagina; or it may be injected by a syringe.-— Give her also the cooling purging draught. — A few weeks is generally sufficient for the cure. The Cow-Pock, Is a disease, similar in some respects to the grease in horses' heels : it proceeds gradually to maturity, and then declines and dies away. Symptoms. — The eyes of the animal appears heavy and dull, and the milky secretions are considerably lessened: the beast moans, and wanders about by itself: irregular pustules ap- pear on the nipples of the udder; which, at first are commonly of a palish blue, or rather CATTLE-KEEPER. 267 approaching to a livid colour, and surrounded by inflammatory appearances. Care.— When the disease is first observed, a cordial drink, as No. 39, or 40, should be given to warm and stimulate the stomach and invigorate the system, by which nature will be the better enabled to repel the disease— If fever- ish symptoms appear, give the purging drink No. 71, to cleanse the body and check the fever. The teats and udder may be well rubbed twice a day, after milking, with the following lotion, which is very serviceable for sore teats, from whatever cause they may proceed. RECIPE No. 85. Crude sal-ammonia, powdered, half an ounce ; Wine vinegar, half a pint; Camphorated spirits of wine; two ounces; Goulard's extract of lead, one ounce: Mix, and keep them in a bottle for use. To dry a Cow of her Milk. When a cow is destined for the shambles, it is necessary to dry her of her milk. To do this, 268 THE COMPLETE requires care, more so in some cows than others, particularly those who give the largest quantity of milk, or are of a gross habit of body; as without both care and management, these will be liable to the downfal, either in the udder or foot, or it may terminate in some inflammatory disorder. It is a subject, therefore, with which every farmer and grazier ought to be well ac- quainted. Cows that are apt to milk themselves, are dif- ficult to dry: such should therefore be dried early in the spring, while at dry meat; others may be dried, either in the pasture, or in any other place. Cows that feed in the pasture, and give a considerable quantity of milk, particularly if in good condition, ought to be put into a fold- yard over night, and from three to four quarts of blood taken from each. The next morning, give the following drink. — RECIPE No. 86. . ■ Powdered roach-alum, seven ounces ; Bole armenic, powdered, two ounces : Mix these in a pitcher, and pour upon them three half pints of hoiling ale ; add a pint of good vinegar, and give it when new milk warm. CATTLE- KEEPER. 269 Milk the cow clean, then give the ahove drink immediately, and turn her into a bare pasture: about four days afterwards, if her udder appear hard and full, fetch her up, milk her clear, and repeat the draught No. 86. This is generally sufficient to dry a cow of her milk ; but as some give so much, as to be difficult to dry, it will in such cases be necessary to repeat the drink every third or fourth day until the effect be produced. In other cases, it will be as well, occasionally, to substitute the following drink, in lieu of the former: it is equally efficacious, and, under some circum- stances, much more so. Put them in a pitcher, and put three pints of boiling water on them : stir the whole together, and give it ■when of the warmth of new milk. RECIPE No. 87. Red wine tartar, in powder, o Treacle, f one pound ; four table spoonsful. z3 270 THE COMPLETE Concluding Remarks. We have thus given the causes> symptoms, and methods of curing the most serious and most .prevalent diseases to which neat cattle are sub- ject. In many instances, however, disease may be arrested in its earliest stage; and, by prompt attention, prevented from extending. Plain directions for the proper mode of seton- ing, and bleeding, are given in the Appendix; which also contains a description of the use and application of the probang, the lancets, and other instruments used in the operations occa- sionally necessary in the diseases of neat cattle. CATTLE -KEEPER. 2/1 OF THE SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHEEP. The structure, habits, and diseases of sheep, so nearly resemble those of neat cattle, that whatever we have said of the one, will apply equally to the other: the same care should be used in the selection of sheep for stock, as was directed in the choice, of cattle; a similar treat- ment should be observed, with respect to the land upon which it is intended to feed them; and an equal care exerted to apportion and vary their food, in such manner as to prevent the disorders which arise from repletion, as well as those which result from stinted or bad food. The diseases which prove most fatal to sheep, commit the greatest ravages among those in the best condition, either in the spring, or at the latter end of the year, when the season is un- usually wet or changeable; and those sheep which have been principally fed upon turnips, are most subject to their attacks. 272 THE COMPLETE Like neat cattle, they are very subject to a plethoric habit, or fulness of blood; it is there- fore very dangerous to change the pasturage of sheep from a bare to a more luxuriant pasturage, except by slow degrees. Low grounds, or woodland pastures, where the air is moist, especially in wet seasons, are unfavourable to the health of sheep. In wet seasons, they should be kept in the highest and driest lands; for a dry air is peculiarly congenial to the healthy condition of these animals. When disease attacks your flock, endeavour to ascertain the cause or causes which produced it; whether it arises from plethora, or redund- ancy of blood in the system; infection; impro- per feeding; humidity of the air; or extreme heat or cold : this being discovered, you can the more readily apply the most proper remedies, and materially lessen the violence of the disease. This plan will also enable you the better to pre- vent its recurrence. The best way of obtaining information, is, when any of your animals drop, to open it, or get it opened, in order to find out the nature and seat of the complaint; by which means, the shepherd, in future, will be the more readily CATTLE-KEEPER. 273 enabled to put a stop to the fatality of the disease. Most of the diseases to which sheep are sub- ject, are, as we have observed, similar to those of neat cattle, and require a very similar treat- ment: generally speaking, also, the same medi- cines may be administered to the one animal as are directed, for the same complaints in the other, but in. less quantity; a sixth part of the quantity given to neat cattle, being a fair pro- portion for sheep. The quantity of blood proper to be taken from a sheep, must depend upon the habit of the animal, and nature of the disease; from eight ounces to a pint being generally sufficient: but in plethoric or inflammatory disorders, a pint and a half, and even a quart, will not be too much. When it is necessary to repeat bleeding in sheep, it will be best to reduce the quantity taken each time. Three or four ounces is usually found sufficient to be taken from a young lamb. Sheep and lambs are- sometimes bled in the vein below the eye, and in the nose: this may, perhaps, be the best, where the complaint affects the head of the animal; but where it is neces- sary to relieve or reduce the system, it is much 274 THE COMPLETE I better to bleed them in the neck, as neat cattle usually are. The blood should be caught in a basin, that the proper quantity may be readily ascertained. The diseases of young lambs are most fre- quently owing to want of proper support, im- proper diet, or undue exposure to wet or cold weather, which debilitates the animal system, and induces frequent and severe colds. We need not here repeat what we have said of the choice and management of neat cattle, being equally applicable to sheep; but a sum- mary of the principal directions will be cer- tainly useful. In purchasing sheep, select those reared from the healthiest and best stocks. Choose those in preference which have been fed upon poorer or barer pastures than your own : but be careful not to place them at once upon land much superior to that to which they have been accustomed. In very wet weather, they should be sheltered, particularly in the night, and a little good dry CATTLE-KEEPER. 275 hay given them; and in snowy weather, or severe winters, they should be housed, and properly tended and fed. In all cases where disease attacks them, be prompt in ascertaining the cause, and ready in administering the proper remedies ; as many of the diseases of sheep begin and terminate in a few hours. Of the Lambing Season. This period must of course depend on the time when the ram is put to the ewes; but, ge- nerally, the latter end of February, or beginning of March, is considered the best time; as the lambs then produced, if properly reared and tended, are much the strongest. Still this is often an inclement season both for the ewe and the lambs, especially if they have been badly kept before yeaning. The consequence is, a severe loss is often sustained both among the ewes and their offspring. Should the dam not have had sufficient sup- port for herself, the lamb will necessarily be poor and weakly at the time it is yeaned. It 276 THE COMPLETE is therefore essential, that every care should be paid to these animals, which nature and the sea- son of the year may render necessary. About six weeks before lambing, the ewe should be supplied with plenty of good food, in order that nature may provide for the offspring at the ap- pointed time. If attention be paid to these par- ticulars, the health and strength of the parent animal will be ensured, and it will be the better enabled to go through the difficulty of parturi- tion; the lamb, also, will be in better condition, and more likely to survive any severity of sea- son which may follow. Every person who would be successful in rear- ing sheep, must be provided with a fold yard, suitable for the purpose; this may consist of a small plot of ground, well protected from the north-east and westerly winds, with a suitable shed and a fire-place in it, and other conveni- ences for the purpose. Thus the shepherd will be able to attend them at all hours of the night, to give his assistance when required, and to take all needful care of them. It often happens, during the lambing season, that ewes are severely handled, through the largeness of the lambs, or their being in a wrong CATTLE-KEEPER. 277 position, so as to bruise or tear the parts through which they pass. It will be necessary to have in readiness, for use at these times, the follow- ing oils : RECIPE No. 88. Venice turpentine, two ounces; Barbadoes tar, two ounces; Spirits of turpentine, quarter of a pint; Linseed oil, half a pint; Mix them well together; then add the following, Mel-Egyptiacum, one ounce; Oil of vitriol, quarter of an oz; Aquafortis, quarter of an oz. Mix these together; then add, Tincture of myrrh, quarter of a pint: Shake the whole well together, and put them in a bottle for use. Whenever it is necessary to use these oils, let the hottle be well shaken, and convey one or two table-spoonsful into the vagina, or sheath, either by the hand, or with a spoon. They warm or stimulate the parts affected, and prevent or cure the gangrene or mortification in those parts, as well as in other fresh wounds. A a I 278 THE COMPLETE When ewes are injured by a difficult parturi- tion, the following drink will prove of excellent service: RECIPE No. 89. Peruvian bark, powdered, one dram; Ginger, ditto, one dram; Mix them in half a pint of warm gruel, and add Treacle, two spoonsful; Brandy, one table-spoonful: Mix, and give it new-milk warm. It is frequently necessary to repeat this drink once or twice a day, where the animals have received much injury, or where they have been reduced by indifferent or scanty keep before the lambing season. In every case, where nature appears to be in a languid and debilitated state, these powders are unequalled for their restora- tive quality. The gruel necessary to be given to ewes at the time of lambing, should be made as follows: RECIPE No. 90. Linseed, fresh powdered, half a pound ; Oatmeal, one pound; CATTLE-KEEPER. 279 Boil a sufficient quantity of this mixture in water, as if made of oatmeal only; then add This will give excellent support to the animals, and will nourish and heal their insides, through the richness of the linseed in combination with the oatmeal. About half a pint, to a pint, of this gruel, may be given at the time, and re- peated twice in the day, if necessary. If the ewe be deficient in milk, (a circum- stance which occasionally happens at the time of lambing, for want of better support,) let the following drink be given, which will be found greatly to assist the secretion of that fluid. RECIPE No. 91. Aniseeds, sweet fennel seeds, carraway-seeds, and grains of paradise, fresh powdered, each, one drain. Mix, and give it in half a pint of warm gruel. This drink acts as a cordial, and powerfully pro- motes the milky secretions, at the same time it warms and stimulates the stomachs and intes- Gin, or hrandy, Sugar, one tea-spoonful; one tea-spoonful. 280 THE COMPLETE tines. But to insure success, take care the ingredients are all fresh and good. Never buy- seeds in powder, but always pound them your- self. Of the Diseases to which Lambs are subject. Lambs are in their infancy subject to a variety of diseases, arising either from them or their dams being insufficiently kept, or from the cold or damp state of the weather. If the weak state of the lambs proceed from poor keeping, support must be given them ; this may be done either by putting them to suck other and stronger ewes, or by giving them cow's new milk, warm as it comes from the animal; but if the complaint arise from cold or damp weather, in addition to the warm milk, the drink No. 92 should be given as afterwards directed, and the lamb should, with its dam, be housed and care- fully nursed. Sometimes, though rarely, the ewe has too much milk : when this is the case, it is apt to coagulate and form into a hard substance in the maw, by which many of the best lambs are fre- quently carried off. — This is similar to the cords in calves, (see page 132) and may be arrested by - CATTLE-KEEP.EK. 281 a similar treatment. — With respect to the quan- tity of medicine to be given, a fifth or sixth part of that directed for the calf, may be safely administered to the lamb. Diarrhoea, or excessive Looseness in Lambs, Is a destructive malady, and most fatal to lambs under a week old; it often seizes them at about twenty-four hours old, and carries them off in six hours after : it mostly, however, lasts two days, in which time it kills five out of six that are attacked with it, except proper reme- dies are administered at its very onset. Symptoms. — This disorder commences with frequent purging, and severe griping pains ; and the lamb is generally much blown up on its at- tack from wind in the stomach and intestines : If no relief be given, the disease becomes sta- tionary, and the stools are attended with a copi- ous ejection of the mucus of the intestines, together with a griping pain, while tbe animal pines rapidly away. Remedy.— The cause from whence the com- plaint originated, must be ascertained, if pos- a a 3 282 THE COMPLETE sible. If it proceeded from cold, or want of pro- per support, new milk warm from the cow should be given, the lamb should be kept warm, and the following drink administered : — RECIPE No. 92. Dover's powders, twelve grains; Compound cinnamon powder, two scruples ; Prepared chalk, one scruple : Mix, and give it in a little warm new milk, thickened with starch, to the consistence of gruel. If the ewe's milk seems to disagree with the lamb, it will be proper to change her diet, and, in some cases, to feed the lamb altogether on cows' new milk, warm ; not neglecting, however, to milk the ewe. The ewe should be also purged once or twice by giving the following : RECIPE No. 93. Epsom salts, two ounces ; Elixir of vitriol, a small tea-spoonful : Mix the salts in a small quantity of water ; then add the elixir, and give it. The drink No. 92, is proper for a lamb of from twenty-four hours to a week or two old; CATTLK-KEKPKR. 283 it should be repeated every three or four hours, until the symptoms be greatly abated, and then, should the diarrhoea continue, once a day will be sufficient. After giving one or two of the above drinks, it is often of great use, in severe cases, to add two or from that to four grains of calomel to it, and repeat this every day for two or three times ; or a table-spoon half filled with castor oil may be given with the drink. A strong lamb, six weeks or two months old, will require the following, instead of No. 92. RECIPE No. 94. Dover's powders, half a dram ; Compound cinnamon powder, one dram ; Prepared chalk, two scruples, to one dram : At this age, however, the diarrhoea is commonly not so fatal ; and, if taken in time, will generally yield to the following draught — RECIPE No. 95. Castor oil, one table-spoonful ; Laudanum, forty to sixty drops ; Mix in a little warm weak gin and water, and give it. 284 THE COMPLETE When diarrhaa attacks lambs that are weaned, and from that time to six or seven months old, it mostly arises from the nature of their food, or from taking cold. A change of pasture will often in this case prove a remedy : Mr. Clayton, in his treatise on the diseases of cattle, says, he knew frequently that when lambs of this age, afflicted with diarrhoea, were removed into a stubble corn-field, this at once put a stop to the over-purging. To animals of this age, the following cordial drink maybe occasionally ad- ministered with advantage : RECIPE No. 96. Prepared chalk, eight ounces ; Aniseeds, fresh powdered, one ounce ; Carra way- seeds, powdered, one ounce; Ginger, fresh powdered, one ounce : Mix these ingredients well together in a mortar, and once or twice a day mix a small table-spoonful of the mixture in a little warm milk, thickened with flour or starch ; give it, together with forty drops of lauda- num ; and in obstinate cases, repeat the dose again in the same day. By a careful adherence to this simple treatment, a speedy cure may be generally expected. CATT LB-KEEPER. 285 Costiveness in Lambs, Is mostly accompanied with slight symptoms of fever ; the lamb appears dull and heavy, and eats little ; after its recovery, the wool generally comes off. Remedy. — The cure is easy and simple ; give the lamb from half an ounce to an ounce, ac- cording to its age, of Epsom salts, dissolved in a little water ; or a table-spoonful or two of cas- tor-oil, which the shepherd should always have by him. If the lamb be much affected, bleeding will be proper. Should it not take sufficient support, give it warm water-gruel, which will not only nourish it, but cool the body, and mo- derately relax the bowels. Staggers in Lambs. This disorder attacks the most thriving, and often proves fatal, especially to those about three or four months old. Symptoms. — The lamb is giddy, falls down, and in general cannot rise again without help, 286 THE COMPLETE or until it is relieved, convulsions sometimes succeed, and the lamb seems much distressed. Remedy. — As this disease proceeds generally from a determination of the blood to the brain, bleeding must be had instant recourse to, and the following purgative drink be afterwards ad- ministered. RECIPE No. 97. Epsom salts, . one ounce ; Elixir of vitriol, half a dram ; Dissolve the salts in a little water, add the elixir, and give it the lamb at once. After the operation of the drink, the following ball should be given to the lamb, taking care to keep it well housed : — RECIPE No. 98. Calomel (according to size or strength) 3 to 6 grains ; True gentian, in powder, half a dram-; Syrup, enough to make a hall: This ball, with the purgative drink, may be given to lambs whenever they are indisposed, if the complaint be not attended with purging. CATTLE- KEEPER. 287 OF THE DISEASES OF SHEEP, Sheep, in their digestive organs, are very simi- lar to the cow, except in being more tender, and liable to disorder, though naturally as hardy as most other animals. — A wet soil, and moist at- mosphere are generally the exciting cause of dis- ease in sheep as in other cattle, and a debility of the nervous system is the predisposing came: the nervous system becomes weakened in vari- ous ways, such as change of climate and soil, and by negligence in breeding and rearing : the draining of land, therefore, which has taken place so extensively in all parts of England, promises to be of great advantage in the rearing of sheep, by drying the land and consequently preventing the mass of exhalations which moistened the at- mosphere around. With respect to the prevention of disease in sheep, the same remarks are applicable to sheep as have been used in respect to neat cattle ; we will therefore on this head refer the reader to that part of our treatise. 288 THE COMPLETE Red W ater in Sheep. This disorder is of the inflammatory kind, and prevails most at the latter end of the year, or during the winter, among sheep feeding on tur- nips, or on succulent grass. It attacks those sheep first which are in the best condition ; and if no relief be obtained, they generally die in less than twenty- four hours. Cause. — Inflammation and consequent morti- fication of some particular parts of the body, as the kidneys, or other intestines ; the inflamma- tion is sometimes considerably increased by the intestines becoming loaded with sand and gravel while feeding on turnips. Whenever this dis- ease makes its appearance in a flock of sheep, no time must be lost in putting a stop to so de- structive a malady, as the loss is otherwise very considerable. Symptoms. — The sheep appears dull, and loi- ters behind the rest of the flock, — the appetite diminishes, and the belly becomes a little swollen, as though it had overgorged itself. CATTLE-KEEPER. 289 Remedy. — Bleed the sheep as soon as the dis- ease shews itself, and then administer the fol- lowing medicine : — RECIPE No. 99. Epsom salts, three ounces; Nitre, in powder, two ounces ; Pour a pint and a half of boiling water upon the salts, and when new-milk warm, add Spirits of turpentine, two ounces ; Bole ammoniac, in powder, quarter of an ounce; Mix, and shake them well together at the time of giving. The dose is from three to four table-spoonsful. When it is necessary to administer this medi- cine to a number of sheep, they must be re- moved from the turnips, or whatever they are feeding on, and put into a pen or fold yard for an hour or two before it is given. A small horn, kept for similar purposes, should have poured into it the quantity proper for each sheep, which should then be given. This is the best method of giving medicine to sheep, where many of them require it at one time. They must be kept from food two hours after the medicine has been given, either in a fold yard or a pen ; after that Bb 290 THE COMPLETE time they may be turned out into a bare dry pasture. When this disease is so severe, that several sheep die daily, the medicine must be repeated every third day, three or four times, or more, if necessary : their diet should also be changed,- and themselves removed to a more dry and ele- vated situation. This medicine, if attended by bleeding, will be found a powerful preventive to most inflam- matory complaints, which sheep are liable to, while feeding on turnips, or in a luxuriant pasture. Resp, Gargut, or Blood, Is a complaint very similar to the black leg in young cattle. It is a dangerous disorder, and so suddenly fatal, that sheep are often found dead from its attacks, without any previous symptoms having been observed. Cause. — A plethora, or overflowing of the blood, is most commonly the origin of this dis- ease, arising from feeding on turnips, or succu- lent food: it is mostly prevalent in low situa- CATTLE-KEEPER. 291 tions, and in woodland pastures where the air is damp. Symptoms. — The sheep is dull and languid, and moves unwillingly ; the eyes appear of a yel- lowish hue or inflamed ; the animal is mostly unable to void its urine, and if it does, it is tinged with blood.— If no relief be afforded, a lethargic dulness comes on, and the sheep dies without a struggle, in consequence of a mortifi- cation in different parts of the body. In death, the flesh is frequently discoloured, and the whole body emits a peculiar offensive effluvia. Remedy. — The moment the symptoms of the disease are observed, the whole of the flock should be bled, particularly the infected ones ; the following purgative should then be adminis- tered and the food changed ; or, if in pasture, re- moved to a thinner bite of grass. — RECIPE No. 99. Epsom salts, two ounces ; Spirit of turpentine, a tea-spoonful ; Powdered ginger, a tea-spoonful ; Dissolve the salts in three ounces (or not quite a gill) of boiling water ; when new-milk warm, add the tur- pentine, and give it. Repeat it next day, if necessary. 292 THE COMPLETE Hydrocephalus, or Giddiness. This disease is also known by the various ap- pellations of Sturdy, Water on the Head, Dropsy of the Brain, Turnsick, &c. — It is mostly caused by exposure to inclement weather without shel- ter,- or through feeding in low marshy grounds, where the air is moist, which obstructs the per- spiration, and by that means produces an in- crease of the watery fluid in the mass of blood. Young sheep are mostly subject to its attacks. Symptoms. — When a sheep is affected with this disease, it appears stupid, turns round and round, and the eyes seem frequently as though fixed in their orbits. As the water on the brain increases in quantity, the sheep is more affected, the vision of one or both eyes becomes impaired, or lost, the animal staggers on one side, if you drive it a short distance; different parts of the body is seized with palsy ; and at length it dies quite emaciated. We have given the above, as the most com- mon symptoms of hydrocephalus; but the dis- ease occasionally puts on very different appear- ances; for instance, under some variations of CATTLE KEEPER. 293 the disease, the animal, when hurried forward, instead of turning round, appears lame in the hind quarters, — generally on one side only, and that most Commonly the left; in this case, in moving forward quickly, it goes nearly straight ; .but the left hind quarter is so inclined, as to make it appear somewhat crooked. — In the early stages of the disorder, the turning round is not so remarkable, unless the animal be hurried; but at a latter period, it does it constantly in at- tempting to move forward, and at last becomes so completely palsied, that he falls down, and is unable to get up, and in that situation gene- rally dies. Remedy. —The cure of this disorder ' is diffi- cult, indeed it cannot be accomplished but by a regular practitioner, or veterinary surgeon.— The most successful plan is that performed in Dorsetshire, and consists in the operation of perforating the skull by a small puncture, and thereby discharging the water from the brain ; a moderate dose of the Epsom or Glauber salts is then given, and the sheep is occasionally bled in the eye vein, or in the neck vein. Or the re- cipe No. 99, may be administered after the ani- Bb 3 294 THE COMPLETE mal has been bled with good effect. — If any ob- jection exist against the assistance of a good veterinary surgeon being called in, the sheep may be bled in the eye vein, or the neck vein, and two ounces of Epsom salts occasionally given, or the recipe No. 99, with advantage; and in this case, it will be best to kill the animal or send it to market; there being nothing, especially in the early stages of the complaint, to operate in any way to the injury either of the flavour or quality of the flesh, except that the animal daily wastes away under its attack. Blast, or Bursting. Is of the same nature as the hoven in neat cattle, and arises from a similar cause, namely, from overfeeding upon clover, or any other suc- culent food, or over rich pasture, particularly the young shoots or blades of grass in the spring or autumn of the year. Symptoms. — Sheep affected in this manner, swell almost to suffocation, lie down with their legs stretched out, or stand still scarcely able to breathe, and, unless relieved, die. CATTJUE-KEKPER. 295 Remedy, — Some farmers stab their sheep in the side, and let out the confined air; this, however, is a very objectionable mode of treat- ment, as every time increases the danger, and the cure then becomes more doubtful. The best method is, to pass a probang down the animal's throat, into the stomach, and the confined air will then rush out. — The following drench, No. 100, should then be administered, and the sheep moved about a little : as soon as the complaint is a little relieved, remove the animal into the barest pasture, and there let it remain until the digestive faculty is restored. A clyster may also be given with good effect. RECIPE Common salt, Solution of potash, (as prepared for the cords in calves) Castor or sweet oil, "Water, No. ]00. one ounce; one or two tea-spoonsful ; two table-spoonsful ; eight ounces : If the animal be griped, or in much pain, thirty or forty drops of laudanum may be added; or. two or three tea-spoonsful of anodyne carmi- 296 THE COMPLETE native tincture will be of service to remove the pain. Catarrh, or Cold. Extreme exposure in an enclement atmos- phere, long-continued rains, and sudden vicissi- tudes of weather, are the usual causes or origin of colds both in sheep and neat cattle. Of these affections, catarrh is the severest, and it some- times destroys great numbers of sheep. Symptoms. — Heaviness in the animal's appear- ance and movements, the eyes watery, and the nose runs, and is almost glued, up with a thick matter, which must be cleaned away, or the re- spiration of the breath will be impeded. The complaint is accompanied with a cough j the animal seems starved, walks stiff, and eats very little. Remedy. — In severe cases, a pint or a pint and a half of blood may be taken from the neck vein; where the symptoms are urgent, this may be repeated daily for two or three days, only re- ducing the quantity taken each time. — The fol- lowing drink should be given after bleeding : — CATTLE -KEEPER. 297 RECIPE No. 101„ Epsom salts, one ounce and a half ; Nitre, one dram ; Cummin-seeds, in powder, one large tea-spoonful ; Treacle, one table-spoonful ; Put them into a pitcher, pour upon them four ounces (or one gill) of boiling water; stir the whole toge- ther, and give it when new-milk warm. In obstinate cases, this drink may be repeated every alternate day. The pasture should also be changed ; or the food altered in quality or quantity. Gogyles. This is an inflammatory affection of the brain, originating in an overflowing of the blood. — • Sheep of all ages are equally liable to its attacks, especially after being turned into a rich luxuriant pasture. The symptoms vary much, according as the brain is more or less affected. Lambs seized with the goggles, sometimes run about quite frantic, and continue doing so, until exhausted; they then drop down, and are unable to rise 298 THE COMPLETE again, from being deprived of all use of their limbs. In this case, immediate bleeding and a removal to a bare pasture, almost invariably ef- fects the cure. When the substance of the brain is more par- ticularly the seat of the complaint, the sheep becomes stupid, and loses the use of one side, or of the hind extremity. This stage of the dis- ease resembles that of the advanced stage of hydrocephalus ; and must be treated as such ; but it is generally incurable. The Yellows. This complaint is most prevalent in low situa- tions, where the grass is of an indifferent qua- lity, and the air moist. — It is often very fatal among sheep, and carries off great numbers out of a large flock, unless promptly attended to, and its progress arrested. ■ Mr. Clater, in his treatise on cattle medicine, gives a case of yellows'm. which he was called in to assist. — "I attended," says he, " two flocks that were seized with this complaint, soon after being turned into a fresh luxuriant pasture; the one on red clover, and the other on rape. — Here they CATTLE-EKE PER. 299 began to thrive, but numbers of the sheep were soon attacked with the yellows from the nature of the food, and for want of proper exercise in obtaining it : many of them died. The disease, however, instantly disappeared when proper re- medies were prescribed, and their exercise in- creased." Symptoms. — The white of the eyes, the mouth, and other parts of the body become tinged with a yellowish hue. The animal appears dull; and, as the disease advances, has a very great aversion to move; its urine is also of a dark colour. Cure. — The affected sheep must immediately be turned into a barer pasture, or have a less quantity of the food upon which they were feed- ing, given in a bare field, and dispersed or laid at moderate distances, so that the animal neces- sarily employs some exercise to obtain it: the sheep, then, as well as the whole of the flock, should be bled, and a mild purgative, (as No. 102) administered. To render the cure more complete, let the cordial drink (No. 91) be given after the above has operated. 300 THE COMPLETE RECIPE No. 102. Epsom salts, an ounce and a half; Ginger, powdered, a large tea-spoonful; Elixir of vitriol, a small tea-spoonful. Pour a quarter of a pint of boiling water on them, and, when new-milk warm, give it. The Rot, Called also the Blain, or Bane, is the most fatal disease to which sheep are subject; it has car- ried off vast numbers, and has occupied general attention. It is now generally considered, as an hereditary malady; that is, the disposition or liability to the disease is hereditary, and consists simply of constitutional debility. This dispo- sition is, however, so necessary a condition to the formation of the disease, that many veteri- nary surgeons consider that, were the system not thus predisposed, the exciting causes, which are cold and moisture, would not produce the rot, but merely cause catarrh, or cold. It is, therefore, absolutely essential, that in the choice of sheep for breeding stock, they should be selected from flocks which have not been visited by this pestilential disease. CATTLE-KEEPER. 301 Watery meadows being the most productive source of the rot, the sheep should *be removed to the more elevated parts of the land; and when the d isease is observed to be coming on, to a more elevated situation; and if there be good pasture, and the sheep be moderately well at- tended to, a cure will apparently be effected: we say apparently, for all the best cattle doctors, and writers on the subject agree on this point, that it never will be eradicated from the system; but remain in a latent state in the constitution, till a similar exciting cause again brings it for- ward in a more fatal form. Two things are therefore essential with respect to sheep which have been affected with the rot; the first is, that on no account should those be put up to breed, in which the disease has positively appeared; and the second is, to kill the sheep as soon as its recovery is so far attained, as to be in a. fit state for food. Dr. Harrison, a well-known writer on cattle medicine, has given to the world a description of the rot, so accurate, that nothing can be added to it. He says — " When in warm, sultry, and rainy weather, sheep that are grazing on low and moist lands c c 302 THE COMPLETE feed rapidlvj and some of them die suddenly, there is reason to fear they have contracted the Rot. " This suspicion will be further increased, if, a few weeks afterwards, the sheep begin to shrink, and become flaccid in their loins. By pressure about the hips, at this time, a crackling is perceptible; now, or soon afterwards, the countenance looks pale, and upon parting the fleece, the skin is found to have changed its vermillion tint for a pale red, and the wool is easily separated from the pelt (skin). " As the disorder advances, the skin becomes dappled with yellow or black spots. About this time, the eyes lose their lustre, and become white and pearly. To this succeed debility and ema- ciation, which increase continually until the sheep die: or else, ascites, and perhaps general dropsy, supervenes before the fatal termination. " These symptoms are rendered more severe by an obstinate purging, which comes on at an uncertain period of the disorder. In the pro- gress of the complaint, sheep become what the graziers call checkered, that is, affected with a swelling under the chin, which proceeds from a fluid in the cellular membrane under the throat. CATTLE-KEEPER. 303 " In live or six days after contracting the rot, the thin edge of the small lobe of the liver be- comes of a transparent white, or blueish colour, and this spreads along the upper and lower sides, according to the severity of the complaint. In severe cases, the whole peritonaeum investing the liver is diseased, and then it commonly as- sumes an opaque colour, interspersed with red dark lines or patches. " When the first stage of the disease is over, flukes begin to appear in and about the common duct of the liver, and in the gall-bladder. At first, their number is small; but as the disease advances, they increase; and, before death, be- come very numerous. In the last stage of the disease they are often to be found in the sto- mach, as well as in the bowels and liver, and may produce either inflammation, or dropsy; or both these disorders. It sometimes goes off, on change of pasture, and sometimes terminates in abscess, or in hard indolent tumours. " When rot produces abscesses in the liver, or lungs, the animal generally lingers for some time; and at last dies of consumption. The most common termination of this disease, is in schirri, or, what shepherds call, knots in the 304 THJE COMPLETE liver; and the first attack is, unfortunately, so very insidious, that the disorder is scarcely ob- servable before the animal begins to waste and lose flesh." Remedy. — Clater, the author of a work on cattle medicine, gives the following remedy, and directions for subduing and arresting the pro- gress of this fatal disease; he says, farmers, whose lands lie in a low situation, and whose flocks are subject to this disease, will find the recipe of infinite value: RECIPE No. 103. Nitre, in powder, six ounces; Ginger, fresh powdered, four ounces; Colcothar of vitriol, fine powder, two ounces; Common salt, three pounds and a half; Boiling water, three gallons. Pour the water hot upon the ingredients. — Stir them, and when new -milk warm, divide it into bottles, each holding more than one quart, a quart of the mixture being the quantity to be put into each bottle; to each of which bottles must now be added, three ounces of spirit of turpentine. It must always be well shaken when given to the sheep. CATTLE-KEEPER. 305 To administer it with proper effect, the fol- lowing directions must be strictly attended to: Keep the infected sheep from food all night; on the following morning give to each sheep two ounces, or two table-spoonsful of the above mixture ; remembering first to shake the bottle well the moment before pouring it out. To those which are weak and much reduced by the di- sease, one half, or three parts out of four may be sufficient for a dose. Keep them from food three hours after giving the medicine, and then turn them into a dry pasture. It will be necessary to repeat the medicine every fourth day for three times, observing the same rules. But where only half the quantity has been given, it will be proper to repeat it every second or third day for six times. Every shepherd should be provided with a small horn, containing a proper dose : this will save considerable time and trouble, particularly when it is necessary to give the drink to a num- ber of sheep at the same time. Sheep take salt readily, and if a little was occasionally given them, or mixed with their food, it would perhaps tend greatly to prevent c c 3 306 THE COMPLETE the visitation or recurrence of this disease ; but a greater source of prevention will be found in keeping sheep in more elevated situations, where the bite is not so luxuriant, but where there is ample food for all the sheep disposed to search for it, and in not exposing them too much in very damp cold weather to the influence of the atmosphere. — The draining of land, now be- come so universal, has in this respect done much towards eradicating this pestilential disease ; and conduces materially to the preservation of the • health of sheep, as well as of every other kind of animal. The following recipe will be found very use- ful in cases of rot. RECIPE No. 104. Tar, four ounces ; Oil of turpentine, four ounces; Salad oil, one pint: This may be given in the same manner, and the animal should be treated in the way as is di- rected for administering recipe No. 103. The Scab, or Kay. This disease is very common in several parts of the kingdom, particularly in Nottinghamshire, CATTLE-KEEPER. 307 and is very contagious ; for if one sheep be in- fected, it will quickly communicate to the rest of the flock, and it takes considerable trouble to eradicate it. A cautious attention should there- fore be used in introducing fresh sheep into the flock, lest any of them should be infected with this pestiferous complaint. Symptoms. — The scab is well known, and the symptoms so decisive, as to be very readily told. It is first discovered by the animals rubbing themselves against every post, gate, bank, or other similar place, and they are frequently seen to pull the wool off with their mouths. The scab is a disease which at first only affects the skin with a scabby eruption; it is, how- ever, necessary to remove it, or the system will become affected, and, unless care be taken, the sheep will fall a victim. Remedy. — The following ointment is confi- dently recommended as being very superior to tobacco-water, or any of the usual washes, par- ticularly as it not only cures the disorder, but also promotes the health of the animal, and encourages the free growth of the wool. 308 THE COMPLETE RECIPE No. 105. Mercury (or quicksilver), Venice turpentine, Spirit of turpentine, four ounces ; two ounces ; half an ounce ; Work them well together in a marble mortar, until the mercury is thoroughly incorporated, which may be complete in about five or six hours ; then take two pounds and a quarter of hog's lard, melt it over a slow fire, and when new milk warm, add it to quicksilver, and keep it constantly stirring until it grows stiff. It may appear to many, that the labour of pre- paring this ointment is very considerable, but it is essential, as the good effects expected by its application wholly depend on the perfect unison of the quicksilver with the other ingredients. It is necessary to be very cautious in using this ointment, as a want of the proper know- ledge of administering it may place the life of the animal in danger. — One pound is sufficient to dress seven sheep; and, if but slightly in- fected, it will suffice for ten. The ointment should be of a moderate con- sistency, so as to spread freely; if too stiff, it will be difficult to rub it on the part affected ; if CATTLE- KEEPER. 309 too thin, it will run, and not do the service in- tended. This may be regulated by the following means : if in summer, leave out half a pound of the lard, and substitute the same quantity of black resin ; dissolve it in the lard, and add it to the mercury : this will stiffen it to the requi- site consistency. In using this ointment, divide the wool on the back from the head to the tail, so as to expose the skin ; then rub a small quantity of the oint- ment upon the skin, from head to tail ; now di- vide the wool on each side, and rub the remain- ing portion of the ointment well in. If the shoulders or thighs of the sheep be affected, they should be particularly attended to, and well rubbed in. The most proper time for dressing sheep in this manner, is about Michaelmas, or any time in October, preferring dry weather for the pur- pose; they should not be dressed too early in the spring, when they have been neglected in au- tumn, but should first be allowed to gather a lit- tle strength. Sheep Lice and Ticks. When sheep are not in a thriving state, or are 310 THE COMPLETE kept in poor condition, they are then very liable to these vermin : they are of great detriment to the sheep, preventing them from thriving, and cause them to injure their fleeces, by rubbing their wool off against fences, or tearing it off with their mouths. Remedy. — The recipe No. 105, for the mercu- rial ointment, is the best that can be prescribed for this filthy pest ; as it not only effectually kills the vermin ; but it also enters into the system, and purifies the blood. One pound of ointment is sufficient for ten sheep. To prevent the Fly. In warm, summer weather, sheep are often sadly teazed with flies; and their annoyance gives them so much trouble, at times, as to cause them to run against hedges or into ditches, or dykes, and injure their condition, by pre- venting them feeding when they ought to make good progress. Many remedies for the prevention of this an- noyance have been recommended; and as far as it is practicable for any one to be successful, the following may be depended upon : CATTLE-KEEPER. 311 RECIPE No. 106. White lead, in fine powder, eight ounces ; Flowers of sulpher ditto, eight ounces ; White arsenic, ditto, eight ounces : Mix them well together, in a marble mortar for use. This quantity of powder will be sufficient for a flock of thirty sheep. To ascertain the proper quantity of each, divide it into equal parts, and paper each by itself ; by which means you will apportion a proper share to each sheep. In using it, let one person take hold of the sheep by the head, and another have a packet of the above powders, put into a pepper-box, held in the right hand, with a stick in the left. Draw the stick gently from head to tail, and with the other hand dust on the powders close after the stick. The use of the stick in this application is that it presses down the wool while the pow- ders are dusted on, and as the wool rises, it shakes and spreads the powders. Then sprinkle a small quantity of water from head to tail, and draw the stick backwards and forwards two or three times, to make the powder adhere to the wool. To those who object to the use of arsenic, the following will be equally serviceable, but it will 312 THE COMPLETE require at least double the quantity to effect the same purpose: — RECIPE No. 107. White lead, in fine powder, eight ounces ; Flowers of sulphur, ditto, eight ounces ; White hellebore, ditto, eight ounces; Mix these well together in a marble mortar, then add a quarter of an ounce of the essential oil of worm- wood, and rub it well on the powders. Sore Heads. Sheep that run in lanes or woody districts, particularly in summer, are very liable to sore heads, through striking or rubbing them either against any butting object, or with their hinder feet, when pestered by the flies ; a wound is thus made, which being aggravated by the same cause which produced it, soon becomes danger- ous, unless a remedy be applied. Oil of hartshorn, oil of coal, spirits of tar, and many other similar things, have been used, and with various success. — Preparations of tar have been found useful. — The following ointment, will be found in all cases to produce the desired cure : — CATTLE-KEEPER. 313 RECIPE No. 108. Black pitch, one pound; '^ ar ' eight ounces ; Black brimstone, or native sulphur, in 1 . , - . , > eight ounces : fine powder J Put these ingredients in an iron pot ; just give thein a a boil over a slow fire, and as soon as the sulphur begins to unite with the rest of the ingredients, in- stantly take the whole off the fire, or it will swell, and run over into the flames. There are two ways of applying this ointment, or plaister, either of which will produce the desired result: — the first way, is, perhaps, the best. Procure, or make of any kind of soft leather, or of strong brown paper, caps of proper shape for laying on the head of the sheep, a cap for each sheep. When the ointment is melted, spread it thickly with a small paint-brush on the cap, and apply it to the head. Evening is the best time to do this, as there is then less chance of knocking them off ; and, by the morning, the caps are generally set fast on the head. Or, — having melted the , ointment, and taken it from the fire, stir it about till new milk Dd 314 THE COMPLETE warm, then spread it on the sore part of the head, either with a wooden spoon, or a spatu- la; and immediately apply a little short wool upon it, in the same manner as when a charge is applied to any part about a horse. In very hot weather, this ointment is apt to be too thin to adhere to the wound : in this case about four or six ounces of black resin added to the other ingredients, will give it the desired consistency. Maggots. Sheep, in summer, are mostly subject to these vermin; most shepherds understand the symptoms which take place when the fly has struck the sheep; but as our book is equally intended for the information of those who do not, as for those who do, we shall give the symptoms in this case as well as in all others. Symptoms. — As soon as the maggots make their appearance on any part of a sheep's body, the wool on that part becomes moist, or wet; the sheep holds down its head, shakes its tail, and runs about from place to place; and if per- mitted to continue a few days in this state, CATTLE-KEEPER. 315 must unavoidably fall a victim to these kind of vermin. Remedy. — The mercurial ointment, No. 105, page 308, may be used generally with good ef- fect for the maggot ; but the following mixture will be found good even in the worst of cases, while in point of cheapness it is decidedly pre- ferable to all others : — RECIPE No. 109. Mercurial sublimate, in powder, one ounce ; Spirit of sea-salt, one ounce ; Boiling water, three quarts : Mix these together in a stone bottle; and, when cold, add spirit of turpentine, one pint : Mix, and they are ready for use. Shake it well every time this mitcture is used. The best method of using this mixture is as follows : shake the bottle well, and instantly fill a quart wine bottle with it, before the turpen- tine can separate from the other ingredients; cork the bottle up, make a hole through the middle of the cork, and through the hole pass a goose-quill open at both ends. — By this simple contrivance, you may at any time force out a 316 THE COMPLETE any time force out a sufficient quantity on the affected part, without waste. — If an ounce of assafostida be put into the quart bottle with the mixture, it will prove the means of preventing the fly from again striking the same part. The Foot-Halt and Foot-Rot, Have by many persons been considered as two separate diseases ; but are, in fact, the two stages of the same disorder, the foot-halt being the first stage; and the foot-rot, the second, or confirmed stage. It is discovered by the animal walking lame, and must be soon relieved, or its cure becomes a slow and tedious process. Remedy. — Let the infected sheep be taken from the pasture, and put into a dry fold- yard, after it has stood here about one hour, take a brush, similar to that used for cleaning teeth, and brush all the dirt from between the claws; then dip a wooden skewer into butter of anti- mony, oil of vitriol, aquafortis, or spirits of salt, and with either of these anoint the di- seased part all over ; and let them stand dry for one hour. If properly done, and taken in good time, one dressing will generally be found suffi- CATTLE KEEPER. 317 cient. — Butter of antimony is the most power- ful of these ingredients, and seems to have the best effect in the greatest number of cases. A second dressing is rarely required, except proud flesh has formed ; in which case the wound must be dressed every third day, till healed. If the disease be not checked by these means, but gets evidently worse, and large excrescences, or superfluous flesh, grow out betwixt the claws, the proper way then to proceed will be to cut it out with a sharp knife, taking care to cut out only the superfluous parts. The operator before he begins must be provided with the fol- lowing essentials, viz. — pledgets of tow, old linen, a piece of tape, and the following pow- ders. RECIPE No. 110„ Blue vitriol, in fine powder, half an ounce ; White vitriol, ditto, half an ounce ; Alum, ditto, half an ounce ; Bole armoniac, ditto, half an ounce : Mix them together, and they are ready for use, Dress the wound or place whence the proud flesh was taken, with the above powders, by co- vexing it quite thick therewith ; secure them on d d 3 318 THE COMPLETE properly with the tow, old linen, and tape. This will stop the bleeding, and prevent the proud flesh rising. This dressing should be re- peated every other day for three or four times. Before either a dressing or operation is per- formed, always cleanse the foot free from dirt. W outlets. Sheep are occasionally wounded, though not so often so as are neat cattle; dogs worry them, particularly in the vicinity of large towns. The following mixture should be kept ready made; it will be found very serviceable in all such cases ; and is particularly useful for ewes that may be torn or hurt during the yeaning season. It is also proper for all kinds of bruises in horses and neat cattle. The parts affected should be well rubbed once a day, taking care to cleanse them from all impurities before the mixture is applied. RECIPE No. HI. Linseed oil, one pint ; Oil of vitriol, two ounces; Spirits of turpentine, four ounces; Oil of origanum, one ounce, Compound tincture of myrrh, four ounces : This mixture must be carefully made as follows : CATTLE" KEEPER. 319 First, put about one-fourth of the linseed oil in a glazed pipkin, and add to it by degrees, keeping it con- stantly stirred till mixed, the oil of vitriol : then add by a little at a time, still keeping it stirred, the spirits of turpentine, and afterwards the remainder of the linseed oil : lastly, add the origanam and tincture ; mix well, bottle it, and it is ready for use. It is a valuable mixture, and will effectually prevent gangrene, or put a stop to mortification. Diseased Eyes, or Blindness. Whole flocks are sometimes affected in the eyes,— the disease may therefore, in some mea- sure, be considered as an epidemic: it is, how- ever, brought on by fatigue and subsequent exposure in a damp or bleak situation. It pre- vails mostly in the north of England ; and gene- rally first attacks those in the best condition. The principal inducing cause, or that which may be said to predispose the animal to the complaint, is a redundancy of blood in the system generally, but particularly so in the head. Cure. — Bleed below the eye, and then give the following purgative drink : 320 THE COMPLETE RECIPE No. 112. Epsom salts, two ounces; Ginger, powdered, one large tea-spoonful; Treacle, one large table-spoonful; Pour a quarter of a pint of boiling water upon these ingredients in a pitcher; stir the whole well toge- ther, and give it when new-milk warm. This, by removing the cause of the disease, will very soon cure the eye itself: as, however, a considerable degree of inflammation sometimes affects the eyes, the following powders will be found useful. RECIPE No. 113. Sal-ammoniac, powdered, two drams; Lump sugar, ditto, two drams; Lapis calaminaris, ditto, two drams. Mix them well together, and put them in a bottle, which keep closely corked for use. There are several ways of applying these pow- ders, but either will answer: some put a small quantity on a sixpence; and while another holds the eye open, the powders are gently blown in, and the head held for a minute or two. Others CATTLJB-KEEPEU. 321 mix four ounces of rose-water with the powders, and pour a small quantity into each eye; while others mix them with honey of roses, and with a feather anoint the eye therewith. Debility and Indigestion. From several causes, as over-driving, worrying by dogs, or overloading their stomachs, sheep are, in summer, frequently attacked with the primary symptoms of inflammation, debility and indigestion: if the attack be that of debility merely, the following, being a warm and stimu- lating medicine, will restore nature to the exer- cise of her proper functions: but if indigestion accompany it, and particularly if inflammatory symptoms appear, bleeding must be had recourse to, in addition to the following draught. RECIPE No. 114. Aniseeds, fresh powdered, one dram ; Carraway-seeds, ditto, one dram; Peruvian bark, ditto, half a dram; Ginger, ditto, half a dram; Treacle, (or sugar) half a table-spoonful ; Gin, one table-spoonful. Mix, and give it in a little warm water. Repeat it, if necessary, even twice in a day. 322 THE COMPLETE Inflammation. When from either of the causes mentioned in the previous disease, inflammation either of the heart, the lungs, or the intestines, has actually taken place, as will often be the case when the animal is fat and driven a considerable distance, a more active medicine should be applied to, and the sheep should be plentifully bled in the neck, or below or above the eye, as may be most likely to touch the seat of the disease; afterwards, the draught No. 112 should be given, and repeated the next day, if necessary. Diarrhwa, or Scouring. This disease often attacks sheep in the spring season, and proceeds from eating the rich young springing grass, when perhaps they have been scantily, and even badly kept during the winter. When this is the case, remove those into a bare pasture, and bring them by degrees to the better. This generally cures the disorder; but to accele- rate the recovery of the animal, give it the fol- lowing mixture daily, for one or two successive days. CATTLE-KEEPER. 323 RECIPE No. 115. Peruvian bark, in powder, Root of ginger, ditto, Prepared chalk, ditto, Brandy, (or gin) one dram ; one dram ; one dram: one tablespoonful : Mix, and give it in a little warm gruel; and, if the dis- ease be very severe, add a teaspoonful of tincture of opium. Ewes at the time of yeaning are very subject to this complaint, which is the same as the downfal among the cows : being kept too well before the time, will often induce an inflamma- tory state of the udder: if cold be then taken, one or more quarters of the udder becomes swollen and tender, and the milk is then curdled and diminished in quantity. At the time of yeaning, ewes should have their udders carefully examined; if the milk pass freely on pressure of the finger and thumb, all is safe; but if the udder be sore and tumified, and the milk altered in colour and smell, there is danger: the inflammation must be speedily re- duced, or the affected quarter will be lost. Inflammation in the Udder of Ewes. 324 COMPLETE CATTLE-KEEPER. Remedy. — First take about a pint of blood away from the ewe, and give her the draught No. 112; then draw away all the milk you can, rub the parts affected well two or three times a day with the following oil: — RECIPE No. 116. Linseed oil, four ounces ; Spirits of turpentine, % half an ounce; Spirits of sal-ammoniac, one ounce : Mix them in a bottle for use. If, however, the tumefaction should increase, and suppuration ensue, it will be necessary to open the part with a lancet, — and dress the wound with the ointment No. 77 j but this should only be done by some persons well ac- quainted with the process ; or the most danger- ous results may occur. APPENDIX. In the foregoing pages, we have so largely- treated on the choice and management of neat cattle and sheep, and so fully described the causes and symptoms of the disorders to which those animals are subject, that but little remains to be noticed in the Appendix. There are, how- ever, some few instruments, used in several of the operations recommended, which require, to be more fully described, as do also the method of performing one or two of the operations themselves. — We shall therefore proceed to no tice these ; and, first, How to set a Seton. Having prepared your seton, by plaiting tow and horse-hair together, or tow only, to the thickness of your little finger, and about a foot in length, dip it into the following ointment: RECIPE No. 117. Hog's lard, four ounces ; Turpentine, one gill; Melt the lard, pour the turpentine to it while in a fluid state, and use it before it is cold. Be 326 APPENDIX. Let an assistant hold the animal while you plunge the seton-needle, with the cord affixed to it, into the upper edge of the brisket, or dewlap; bring it out again at its lower edge, leaving a space between the two openings of about five to seven inches asunder. Fasten a small piece of wood to each end of the cord, to prevent the seton from dropping out. In a few days, matter will begin to run ; the cord must then be drawn backwards and for- wards three or four times every second or third day, and again moistened with the mixture, No. 117. The parts will thus be irritated, and the discharge encouraged. The seton may he re- moved when the disease is subdued; but if set to prevent the black-leg, or hoose in calves, it may be suffered to remain till it rots. Setoning is useful as a prevention of disease, particularly in the above two complaints : it is also productive of good effect in the joint-evil, as well as in most inflammatory complaints ; its action diverting the increased determination of blood to the affected parts. The animal should be sheltered from all cold winds, or damp weather, while under the effects of this operation. APPENDIX. 327 To set a Rowel. Rowels are set for similar purposes as setons, and are preferred by some farmers, as being con- venient to apply to almost any part of the animal, so as, in some complaints, to touch more readily the seat of disease ; while the seton must from its nature be confined to the dewlap. With very sharp scissors, a sharp knife, or a lancet, make an incision through the skin of the animal; then introduce the finger and separate the skin from the flesh all round, as far as the finger will reach. A piece of leather, of the size of a crown-piece, with a hole in the middle, should then be inserted between the skin and the flesh, having first been dipped in the follow- ing stimulating ointment: RECIPE No. 118, Corrosive sublimate, one fourth of a dram ; Spirits of wine, one ounce ; Put a small piece of 'tow spread with this same oint- ment over the hole in the centre of the leather; lay the skin over all, and cover the part with a pledget of tow, also covered with ointment, to keep out the external air. 328 APPENDIX. The parts around the rowel will, in two or three days, swell, at which time a yellowish dis- charge will appear, and gradually become thicker and whiter. At the end of the third day, it must be examined, and the plug removed from the centre hole, to allow the matter to flow freely. The rowel is now complete, and may be con- tinued as long as necessary. In cases of extreme debility, rowels should be avoided; they are most useful in inflammatory affections, particularly of the external parts, in swellings of the limbs, and in strains of the shoulders. Bleeding. Bleeding is so generally useful, particularly in diseases resulting from overflow of blood and inflammatory attacks, that no person engaged in the care of cattle of any kind, should be ignorant of the method of performing this useful operation, or ever in want of the proper instruments ; it being often necessary to apply to this at the in- stant when other remedies are not at hand. The annexed plate (plate iv.) representing the situation of the veins in the cheek most proper for bleeding, cannot fail to be useful. APPENDIX. 329 Explanation of the Plate. 1, The vein coming from below the under -jaw, at 2, and spreading its branches on the soft part of the cheek. 3, A small nerve, which runs in an opposite direction, and crosses over the vein ; and care must be taken in the operation of bleeding, that this nerve be not divided. Below this nerve, a thick fleshy- muscle is seen, which has the principal share in moving the jaw during feeding. 4, Another muscle, much thinner than the former, beneath which the branches of the vein of the cheek pass; it goes to the corner of the mouth, and assists in the motion of the lips. The vein should be opened, in the operation of bleed- ing, at the part where it is largest, and nearest the surface, and where there is least risk of injuring any surrounding part. The place marked 1 will generally be found to answer best. The vein may be felt distinctly coming from the branches of the trunk, and passing over the edge of the lower jaw to the cheek, about oppo- site to the third of the grinding teeth.— When the operation is to be performed, the left hand of the operator should be placed under the head b e 3 330 APPENDIX. of the animal, and the under jaw grasped in such a manner, that the fingers come upon the right side of the jaw, so as to press upon the vein, a little below where it is intended to be opened. By thus pressing on the vein, the flow of blood is prevented beyond the place where the pressure is applied: the blood, consequently, can now find no other course than the artificial opening about to be made. The operator opens the vein with his lancet, by making a slanting incision thus / , across it, at the place where the trunk of the vein is largest, and where it is most dis- tinctly felt through the skin. While introducing the instrument, be careful to keep the vein from rolling under the skin, and escaping from the point: this is best accomplished by making the incision close to the point of the finger which presses upon the vein. In plate 6, fig. 7 represents a phleme, or lancet of the proper kind for bleeding cattle. The Probang. This valuable instrument was invented by the late celebrated Dr. Munro, for the purpose of relieving blown or hoven cattle, from the con- fined air, which is now known to be the cause APPENDIX. 331 of the swelling which is a consequence and evidence of the disease itself. The doctor had observed how subject neat cattle and sheep were to be blown, or blasted, by feeding on luxuriant crops, particularly where the animal had broken or strayed into a field of vetches, clover, or arti- ficial grasses; and he observed that the common method of stabbing the blown animal in the side, was productive of serious injury in after cases of the kind*. To obviate this inconveni- ence, the. doctor introduced this simple instru- ment, which he had the satisfaction to find com- pletely answered the purpose intended. Description and Use of the Prohang. This instrument is a flexible tube: the one used for neat cattle, is five feet long, and half an inch in diameter; that for sheep is, of course, proportionably smaller. It answers a double purpose: 1st, for removing the confined air in the stomach of the blown beast; and 2ndly, by acting as a probang to remove any stoppage in the throat, which frequently occurs to cattle by taking roots for food, as turnips, &c. See hoven, blast, or blown, page 188. 332 APPENDIX. The manner of administering this useful in- strument is plainly shewn in the annexed plate, (plate v) and in plate vi, the construction of the Probang is minutely explained. The end marked c, is that which passes to the stomach, to relieve the blown animal; the end marked b, is the end which is inserted to remove any obstruction, or lump of food in the throat. The whalebone probe keeps it sufficiently firm to enable the operator to proceed with the great- est east. Explanation of Plate vi. Fig. 1 . a, the flexible tube made with leather, b, a hollow horn ball, through which the air escapes. c, the end which passes to the stomach. d, d, a two -inch horn runner, put on the whalebone probe, to prevent it going beyond the end of the tube, when it is not required to do so. e, the handle of the whalebone tube. Fig. 2. The whalebone probe, with runner upon it. Fig. 3 and 4. The ends of the tube enlarged. Fig. 5. The gag, or mouth-piece. This is a piece of wood, with a hole in it large enough to admit the tube, and which keeps it from being bitten; to APPENDIX. 333 the ends of which is fastened a strap, which buckles behind the horns of the animal. Kg. 6. Is an improved instrument, termed a trochar, with a silver canilla, useful for piercing the sides of blown or hoven cattle, when the animal is so furiou3 that the probang cannot be used. This instrument is thrust into the sides of the animal, as you see it in fig. 6, marked a, and supersedes the more dan- gerous use of the knife. In drawing out the handle, you leave the silver canilla, marked b, in the side of the beast, through which the confined air rushes, and gives instant ease. That marked c, is the trochar, (which has a triangular point), without the canilla. That part of the side of the animal into which this instrument should be plunged, will be found described in the latter part of page 188. Fig. 8, represents a drenching horn, very useful for administering medicine. There should be two sizes of this hom, the larger for neat cattle, the smaller for sheep. The whole of the above instruments, together with all other articles used in cattle farriery, are manufac- tured and sold by Mr. Long, veterinary instrument maker to his Majesty, the Veterinary College, and the Army; 217, High Holborn, opposite Southampton- street, Bloomsbury, London. — Who kindly furnished the designs from which the above articles were copied. 334 APPENDIX. Tenting Sheep, or Shelter. It has been previously stated in our foregoing remarks, that exposure to the damp is alone the source of half the diseases to which neat cattle and sheep are. subject: this is more par- ticularly the case in snowy weather. A heavy rain may fall; but this must of necessity drain off; while snow, on the contrary, may remain on the land several days, and even weeks. In a - great or continued fall of snow, sheep may be lost, particularly in a drift; and before it can be removed, the animals may have perished from Avant of sustenance. It is very easy to remedy this serious incon- venience, and remove the cause of disease so consequent thereon. For this purpose, shelter must be afforded, — not confinement; particularly with regard to sheep, it being the very nature of these animals to rove unconfined, and be at complete liberty. For the larger animals, cattle sheds, or out-houses, are most useful, to which they can retreat at night, or in rainy or snowy weather; but, for sheep, these are inconveniently large, and unnecessarily expensive. We shall describe two or three sorts of this AFPNDIX. 335 artificial shelter for sheep, merely recommending to the sheep-breeder the adoption of some plan of the kind, if he have any wish to rear them healthily through the winter. For the first of these plans, we will refer to plate I.— A few poles are driven into the earth at equal distances, so as to form an oblong enclosure. Over these, a tarpaulin, or rick- cloth is to be stretched; which should, at the north side, descend to the bottom, also at one end, if convenient; the other, to face the south, must of course be left open. Into- this a suffi- ciency of food should be put, and it will prevent all chance of the sheep being buried in the snow, however severe may be the fall. The second plan is, to construct circular en- closures, the walls of stones, or turf: if of the latter, the base should be four feet thick, the top two feet, and the height six feet. In the middle of this enclosure, a pole should be erected, about eight feet in height; and over this a tilt-cloth may be thrown, fastened by pegs to the outside.' One or two openings should be left as entrances, or door-ways, facing the south. . The third plan is simply to take advantage of trees already growing, by an extra stake or two 336 APPENDIX. to form an enclosure somewhat similar to the first plan. Whatever may be the plan pursued, food must be put within the enclosure, and the sheep will readily take to it, on all occasions, when rain or snow may fall. Nor need you be afraid that they will keep within the enclosure too much, for sheep are too fond of liberty to be confined when they can at all rove about. In our description of cow-houses, in the first portion of the foregoing treatise, we stated that we should recur to the subject in the Appendix. Upon more mature consideration, however, we think that the preceding remarks on shelter, and the drawings of improved beast houses, are^ll that is necessary. It is also stated in our description of the Dutch and Flemish farms, that the dung-pits are of a circular form; in our plate representing the same, (plate III), we have shewn these pits of a square, or rather, of an oblong form. — We have preferred the latter form in the plate, as being, in some respects, most adapted to the English idea of dung-pits. FINIS. Dean and Mundar, Printers, Thrcadnecdlc-strect, London. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON THE LIBRARY I.S. FEB. 1962 This book is to be returned to the Library on or before the 4 5„. j ^ ate stam P e d below. y 1 USEFUL PUBLICATIONS. j Goldsmith's Natural History, abridged; 3, t>. IJ fine frontispiece, and 400 cuts, bound - 5 6 u Goldsmith's History of England; bounr ■ > I I Complete Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer's j( ■' Guide; coloured plates, boards- --46 I 1 '[ Modern Domestic Cookery; 6plates, bds 4 0 j Fisher's Young Man's Best Companion, or 1 Book of Useful 'knowledge ; bound - - 3. G j Johnson's Dictions" v; -fine portrait bound 3 6 j Entick's Dictior aryim-ro e<" • bound -3 (> j Beauties of Melody: approved Song!,, jj Glees, Duets, &c. set to Music - - f || Fashionable Letter -Writer ; plates, boanlv 2 ft (" London fvlitwtrel ; Songs set to Mr.-.ic- ->'2 « [ Price's Modern Gardener ; neat i>!ate- - 1 g ,• Compile Domestic Herbnl; neot plate - 1 0 ji Complete "B^Boy Reckr.ner; bound - - 1 6 I Ivew Whole Art of Confectionary, &c- - 1 ." , Biscuit-BakerandPastiy-Coqk's Assistant. 1 0 New London Letter -Writer; neat plate - 1 0 Art of Cookery made plain 'and easf; plate 1 0 School of Arts, or Fountain of Knowledge I 0 Family's, Innkeeper's, and Butler's Guide 1 0 Cattle Keeper's Guide - - - - -; -1 0 Universal Vermin-Killer; smmerous cuts 1 0 j j Abstracts of the Beer Acts ----- 0 fi I Laws of Landlords , Tenants, and Lodgers 0 (> I