On applying the hand to the horn or horns of a sick beast, an unnatural
heat, or sometimes coldness, is felt: this enables us to judge of the
degree of sympathetic disturbance. And here, reader, permit us to
protest against a cruel practice, that is much in fashion, viz., that of
boring the horns with a gimlet; for it does not mend the matter one jot,
and at best it is only treating symptoms. The gimlet frequently
penetrates the frontal sinuses which communicate with the nasal
passages, and where mucous secretion, if vitiated or tenacious, will
accumulate. On withdrawing the gimlet, a small quantity of thick mucus,
often blood, escapes, and the interested operator will probably bore the
other horn. Now, it often happens that after the point of the gimlet has
passed through one side of the horn and bony structure, it suddenly
enters a sinus, and does not meet with any resistance until it reaches
the opposite side. Many a "mare's nest" has been found in this way,
usually announced as follows: "The horn is hollow!" Again, in aged
animals, the bony structure within the horn often collapses or shrinks,
forming a sinus or cavity within the horn: by boring in a lateral
direction, the gimlet enters it; the horn is then pronounced hollow!
and, according to the usual custom, must be doctored. An abscess will
sometimes form in the frontal sinuses, resulting from common catarrh or
"hoose;" the gimlet may penetrate the sac containing the pus, which thus
escapes; but it would escape, finally, through the nostrils, if it were
let alone. Here, again, the "horns are diseased;" and should the animal
recover, (which it would, eventually, without any interference,) the
recovery is strangely attributed to the boring process. An author, whose
name has escaped our memory, recommends "cow doctors to carry a gimlet
in their pocket." We say to such men, Lead yourselves not into
temptation! if you put a gimlet into your pocket, you will be very
likely to slip it into the cow's horn. Some men have a kind of
instinctive impulse to bore the cow's horns; we allude to those who are
unacquainted with the fact that "horn ail" is only a symptom of
derangement. It is no more a disease of the horns than it is of the
functions generally; for if there be an excess or deficiency of vital
action within or around the base of the horn, there must be a
corresponding deficiency or excess, as the case may be, in some other
region.
"Horn ail," as it is improperly termed, we have said, may accompany
common catarrh, also that of an epidemic form; the horns will feel
unnatural if there be a determination of blood to the head: this might
be easily equalized by stimulating the external surface and extremities,
at the same time giving antispasmodic teas and regulating the diet. The
horns will feel cold whenever there is an unnatural distribution of the
blood, and this may arise from exposure, or suffering the animal to
wallow in filth. The author has been consulted in many cases of "horn
ail," in several of which there were slow fecal movements, or
constipation; the conjunctiva of the eyes were injected with yellow
fluid, and of course a deficiency of bile in the abomasum, or fourth
stomach; thus plainly showing that the animals were laboring under
derangement of the digestive organs. Our advice was, to endeavor to
promote a healthy action through the whole system; to stimulate the
digestive organs; to remove obstructions, both by injection, if
necessary, and by the use of aperients; lastly, to invite action to the
extremities, by stimulating liniments. Whenever these indications are
fulfilled, "horn ail" soon disappears.