Inflammatory Complaints. It lessens the quantity of blood in the vessels,
and diminishes nervous power. The following are the chief diseases, in
which bleeding is required.
In all kinds of fever, itching and humors of the skin, enlarged glands,
or kernels between the jaws, bruises, strains, catarrh or colds, &c.
The jugular or neck vein, is that which is mostly opened; in many
inflammatory complaints too much can hardly be taken, provided the
bleeding be stopped as soon as the patient appears likely to faint or
fall down. A strong healthy Beast will bear the loss of five-six quarts
of blood without the least injury; large Cattle will bear seven or eight
quarts with decided advantage.
ON PHYSIC.
The chief purgative Medicines for neat Cattle are Glauber Salts, Epsom
Salts, Barbadoes aloes, Linseed Oil and Sulphur. In some extreme cases
the Croton Nut, freshly prepared may be used with decided advantage.
Aloes are getting into disuse, on account of it nauseating and exciting
the Animal; if it does not operate immediately, half an ounce of aloes
may be added to the salts with decided advantage. In particular diseases
where there is considerable fever, or the attack of fever is apprehended,
there is no purgative so beneficial as the Epsom Salts; in bad cases
twenty four ounces may be given at a dose, and eight ounces of sulphur
every six hours, until the purgative effect is produced. Linseed Oil is a
good purgative, the dose is from a pint to a pint and a half. Common Salt
is a very good purgative in mild cases, a pound dissolved in warm water
is a dose; it should not be given when the animal labors with fever.
ON SETONING.
The utility of setoning is to create excitement and unload the overloaded
vessels in neighboring inflamed parts. The mode of inserting a seton,
it is commonly made of horse hair platted together, cord or tape alone
or leather, it should be tolerable thick and ten or twelve inches in
length. Before inserting the seton it should be dipped or saturated with
Turpentine, tincture of Cantharides, or Helebore. The seton now prepared;
an assistant is to hold the animal, while the seton needle with the cord
affixed to it is plunged into the upper edge of the brisket or dew lap,
and brought out again towards its lower edge. The space between the two
openings should be from four to eight inches; the seton is to be secured
by fastening a small piece of wood, or tying a large knot at either end
of the cord; matter will begin to run the second day, and after that the
cord should be drawn backwards and forwards two or three times a day, in
order to irritate the parts, by this means increase the discharge. Where
a considerable effect is intended to be produced, the black helebore is
the best, this will very quickly cause considerable swelling, as well as
a discharge.
COLDS AND COUGHS.
Colds or Coughs are frequently much neglected, and very much injures the
animal, let this hint suffice, as soon as you perceive the animal to have
the cough, give a purging drink. Take epsom salts 1 lb., powdered caraway
seeds ½ oz., dissolve in a quart of warm gruel. After that use the cough
and fever drink until relieved twice a day.
Cough and fever medicine.--Take emetic tartar 1 oz., powdered digitalis ½
drachm, saltpetre 3 drachms, mix and give in a quart of gruel; house the
beast and keep it comfortable, especially at night, do not expose to cold
and wet weather.
If the above should not give relief: Take emetic tartar half drachm,
nitre two drachms, powdered gentian root one drachm, powdered chamomile
flowers one drachm and powder ginger half drachm. Pour upon them a pint
of boiling ale, and give the infusion, when nearly cold; give until
relieved. Should not this entirely relieve--take liquorice root 2 oz;
bruise and boil in a quart of water, until the fluid is reduced to a
pint, then add two drachms powdered squills, honey 2 ounces; add to the
above and give as directed in the above.
INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.
Inflammation of the Lungs is caused by perspiration, sudden and great
changes of the weather, especially when accompanied with wet and damp air
at night, and particularly when driving a long journey.
Symptoms are dullness, shivering cough, particularly soar, the ear, roots
of the horns and legs are generally cold; the breath and mouth is hot,
the mouth generally open, and there is a ropy discharge from it; the
beast will often lie down and can scarcely be induced to move, the flanks
heave, the head is protruded, showing great difficulty in breathing.
REMEDY:--Copious bleeding is the first and great important remedy; bleed
until the beast trembles, if you do not, you will lose your beast;
next, place in your seton in the dewlap, fire the sides and blister,
then follow with the Fever medicine. Emetic tartar 1 drachm, digitalis ½
drachm, nitre ⅓ drachms; continue until relieved twice a day.
DERANGEMENT OF THE LUNGS.
When the milch Cow is attacked, there is a diminution of the milk, and
it has a ropy appearance and a saltish taste after being separated from
the cream. The animal has a heavy appearance; the eyes being dull, with
a stiffened staggering gait; the appetite is impaired, the nostrils and
skin is of a yellow color, the bowels are generally costive, by pressing
on the edge of the short ribs on the right side, the animal will shrink,
indicating pain and tenderness. Remedy:--If any fever bleed, then follow
with one or two drachms of calomel, 1 scruple of Opium, 2 drachms of
ginger, give in gruel a few hours afterwards. Give 12 ounces epsom salt
and half pint Linseed oil; the calomel and opium may be repeated twice a
day, and the purgative also, until the bowels are sufficiently operated
upon; the sides may also be blistered, and seton may also be inserted. If
the animal should be left weak, use the following tonic drink:--Gentian
root powder ½ oz., ginger 1 drachm, epsom salts 2 oz., mix the whole with
a pint of warm water gruel, and give it morning and night.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.
CAUSES:--It proceeds most commonly from redundancy of blood, or
overflowing of the blood, by means of hastening the fattening too
rapidly, or by turning in a rich pasture.
SYMPTOMS:--In the early period of it, the beast is dull and stupid,
he stands with his head protruding, or pressed against something for
support, he refuses to eat, is unconscious of the surrounding objects,
now and then suddenly drops as if he were shot, he starts up all at once,
is fearless of any surrounding object, his eyes will become red starting
from their sockets, will stagger about, falling and rising again and run
against everything in his way, he will stamp, tear up the ground with its
horns, run at every one within its reach, bellowing until nature is quite
exhausted; trembling will then come over him, he will grind his teeth and
saliva will pour from his mouth, every limb will be convulsed and he will
presently fall and die.
REMEDY:--The chief or only cure is bleeding, let the blood flow rapidly
until he falls from the loss of blood. Setons should be placed on each
side of the poll, and blistered on the forehead, then follow with heavy
doses of physic, when relieved feed cautiously for a few weeks.
STAGGERS OR SWIMMING in THE HEAD.
CAUSE:--Starvation during the winter season, and being admitted into too
fertile a pasture in the Spring, producing a redundancy of blood, which
gives rise to the disease.
SYMPTOMS:--Are heaviness, dullness, disposition to sleep, resting his
head upon any convenient place, reels and staggers when he attempts to
walk.
If this disease is not checked by bleeding, or purging, or proper
management, it may terminate in inflammation of the brain or fever.
REMEDY:--This must be remedied by bleeding, purging and giving the fever
medicine--after purging, give emetic tartar one drachm, digitalis ½
drachm, nitre ¼ drachms twice a day until relieved, feed cautiously.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS WITH COSTIVENESS.
Inflammation of the bowels is by no means an uncommon disease among neat
cattle, very often proves fatal. It is easily recognized by the peculiar
symptoms.
CAUSE:--This disease mostly arises from exposure to cold, and especially
when cattle go into rivers or ponds, after being heated and fatigued,
chilling the blood. It is sometimes produced by too much dry or
stimulating food.
SYMPTOMS:--The animal is continually lying down, getting up again,
strikes at his belly with his hind feet. The bowels obstinately
constipated; dungs in small quantities, hard, covered with mucus at
times, streaked with blood--the urine is generally voided with difficulty
and heaving at the flanks, accompanied with fever, becomes fearfully weak
and staggers as he walks, he leaves his company, hides himself under
hedges, &c. Becomes deaf, he trembles all over, his skin is hot, back
and loins tender, ears and horns hot, indicating the highest degree of
general fever.
REMEDY:--The first thing to be done and that which admits of no delay, is
to bleed profusely. Next, purge freely; continue the purging medicines
until the bowels are freely opened, then lessen the doses so as to keep
the bowels open. In severe cases you must give injections until the
medicines operate freely. This is a very dangerous disease and the course
pursued must be decisive, or the beast is lost! The only hope you have
after bleeding, is in physicing; you should by all means clyster largely
and in great quantities, the epsom salts and castor oil will do no harm;
thin gruel is very good! Let these hints suffice.
DIARRHEA OR PURGING.
DIARRHEA OR PURGING:--In the first place indicates some disordered state
of the bowels, or the presence of some offending matter in them, and he
will endeavor to remedy this; not by attempting to arrest the discharge
too speedily! First, give a mild physic, then follow with the astringent.
REMEDY:--Take a strong decoction, white oak bark 3 ounces, laudanum 1½
oz., golden tincture 1 oz. Give it in thin gruel until relieved.
Dysentery, Slimy Flux, or scouring rot is treated the same way. The
symptoms of this are considerable tenderness on the spine a little beyond
the shoulders, 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, the hair appears pen feathered or starring;
the eyes are generally inflamed, with heaving of the flanks, painful
twitching of the belly, severe straining, griping, &c. This disease
treated the same as Diarrhea.
RED WATER.
RED WATER:--This disease consists of a discharge of high colored urine,
occasionally tinged with a bloody appearance, it is an affection of the
kidneys; in some cases the discharge changes to a dark red, or blackish
color. When the kidneys are effected, the beast evinces tenderness on
pressing the loins.
REMEDY:--Take oil of juniper ½ oz., laudanum 1 oz., oil turpentine 1 oz.,
mix and give in a pint linseed tea, once or twice a day until relieved.
The oil of juniper may be increased or diminished as the case may require
it.
GARGET, DOWNFALL IN THE UDDER, OR INFLAMED BAG.
This is a disease of the utmost consequence to the owners of Cattle;
young Cows in high condition are most liable to it, especially at the
time of calving. This disease makes its appearance in one or more
quarters of the bag, which becomes swollen, hard, hotter than usual
and painful when pressed. The milk is lessened and mingled with blood,
pus and corruption, at times the flow of milk is totally stopped and
sometimes the inflammation extends to the hip joint, hock and foot lock.
REMEDY:--It will be necessary as soon as the downfall is discovered,
and especially in an aggravated case, to bring the animal out of the
pasture and if deemed necessary, take from three to five quarts of
blood according to the size or strength, next give her a purging drink
and bathe the udder well with elder ointment, or use mercurial garget
ointment, which is made by taking soft Soap 1 lb., Mercurial Ointment
2 ounces, camphor rubbed down with a little spirits of wine 1 ounce,
rub them well together. Should there be any fever, give a few doses of
fever medicine; this is a disease of great importance, as many Cows are
ruined or lost purely from neglect. The milk must be taken from the Cow
perfectly clean, and this should be done several times during the day;
and the Cow must be fed scantily and with no stimulating food.
The teats sometimes get very sore, this is easily remedied by using the
ointment for sore teats. Take elder ointment 6 ounces, Bees wax 2 ounces,
Sugar of lead 1 ounce, Alum 1 ounce in fine powder, mix them well
together, whilst cooling bathe the teats freely.
TREATMENT OF THE COW, BEFORE AND DURING CALVING.
It is an old and true saying, and the truth of it is nowhere more evident
than in treatment of the Milch Cow; that the prevention of an evil is
better than the cure. The Cow should be dried six or eight weeks before
calving, for two reasons: First, the strength and constitution of the Cow
require a little respite. Second, the mixture of the old milk and the new
secretions, that nature prepares for the expected calf. During the early
period of gestation, the animal may and should be tolerably well fed, for
she has to provide milk for the Dairy, and nourishment for the fœtus.
But when she is dried, her food should be considerably diminished:--She
should not be too fat, or full of blood at the time of calving, for that
is the frequent cause of difficult labor, garget fever and death.
There are few things in which the Farmer errs, more than in this. There
is also an error in starving her before she calves, but, is much more
danger in bringing her into too high condition. Some Cows are apt to
slink their calves before their time; this generally happens about the
middle of their pregnancy. She becomes feverish of her food, wandering
in search of something which she seems to be longing for. She should be
immediately removed from the other cows, bled and physiced; the best
thing to be done is to fatten her for the butcher, for she will be very
certain to do the same again. When the ninth month is nearly expired, she
should be looked after; if in high condition, she should be physiced, and
if necessary, bled, and if she is about to calve, she should be separated
from the other cows, or brought into the cow-house, and suffered to
remain quiet, and undisturbed. But should she not be successful in
calving within a reasonable time, she should have assistance.
SYMPTOMS:--Are uneasiness, slight lifting of the tail, lying down and
getting up. The still earlier symptoms are enlargement of the udder, and
redness of the space between the shape and the udder.
TREATMENT:--When the labor has actually commenced, the membranes will
more and more protrude until they break, and the fluid by which the calf
was surrounded will escape. If her pains are strong, she should not be
meddled with for a few hours. And if no portion of the Calf presents
itself, the hand well greased should be introduced, in order to ascertain
the situation, and position of the calf. The natural position is with the
fore feet presenting, and the muzzel lying upon the fore leg. If this
is found to be the case and it has advanced into the passage, sometime
longer should be allowed to see what nature will do. However, as soon as
you perceive the throes to begin to weaken, if no progress has been made,
manual assistance must be rendered.
Here there are two objects to be accomplished; the saving of the lives of
both the mother and the young one; all should be done gently.
THE MODE OF ASSISTANCE.
The hand should be well greased, then introduced, and the fore-legs of
the calf laid hold of and drawn down, drawing gently at the moment of
the mother’s throes. Care should be taken that the head is accompanying
them. The hand will sometimes be sufficient for this purpose. If the head
cannot be moved by the hand, a cord must be procured with a slip knot at
the end, which is to be moved carefully into the passage, and the mouth
of the young animal being opened, fastened round his lower jaw, the end
of this must be given to an assistant, who should pull gently but firmly
at the moment of the throes, while the operator draws out the feet.
Should not this succeed, take two other cords or rope, and fasten one
around each leg--two assistants should pull at the feet and another at
the head; while one ascertains the progress that is made--too much force
should not be used, as the calf may yet be saved. Remember the natural
position of the calf, is the presenting of the muzzel lying upon the
fore-legs. The most usual false position, is the presentation of the
head, while the feet of the calf are doubled down under his belly. A cord
must be passed as before, around the lower jaw, which is then to be
pushed back into the womb. The operator now introduces his hand and feels
the situation of the feet, then fix a cord around each pastern, or about
the knee, and bring them into the passage. The head is next to be brought
forward again by means of the cord; the cords being now pulled steadily
together, it will generally be extracted. Should the calf be dead, and
much swollen, the head may then be opened by means of a knife, so as to
lessen the bulk. When the feet present and the head is doubled under the
rim of the passage, the cords should be placed round the feet, the hand
passed into the womb, and the cord looped round the lower jaw. The calf
pushed farther back into the womb, the head brought into the passage and
the three ropes pulled together. The delivery effected as quickly as may
be without the exertion of more force than is necessary.
The last false presentation is the breach--the tail appearing at the
mouth of the shape. The hand is to be passed into the uterus, fasten the
cords around each hock. The calf is then pushed as far back as possible
into the womb, and the hocks are after brought into the passage, the
head placed in the proper position, and the ropes changed if necessary,
and all three cords drawn gently, until the calf is extracted;
considerable force is sometimes needed, but should all be done gently,
with an increase of drawing, until the job is completed. By studying
these cases, the operator will be able to accomplish his object. In all
cases of false presentations, although great force must sometimes be used.
The uterus, or calf bed is sometimes protruded and inverted. The case
is not desperate. The part must be cleansed from blood and dirt, and
supported by a sheet, then the operator beginning at the very bottom of
the womb, returning gradually, and with great care, and patience. The
animal should be bled before this is attempted, and the application of
cold water should be used for some time; this will contract the womb, and
render its return more easy. A stick or couple should be passed through
the lips of the shape; in order to prevent its return, and give the
following medicines a few times: Take laudanum 1 oz., sweet spirits of
nitre 2 oz., give in a pint of warm gruel. The protrusion or inversion
of the gut, should be returned the same as in the womb, and a few sticks
placed through the shape.
The Cow should in all cases be suffered to lick or clean the calf, as
nature has designed it. The cow and calf will be much happier if suffered
to remain together for several hours, having free access to each other.
The mother should not be exposed to severe weather, immediately after
calving. Should have a few warm mashes.
THE MILK FEVER.
This is a disease which is prevalent amongst Cows in high condition.
SYMPTOMS:--Staggering gait, breathing irregular, eyes full and glassy,
the animal reels, is unconscious, the head turned on one side, the
feeling partially lost, the legs sometimes become paralyzed.
REMEDY:--Take epsom salts 12 ounces, flour sulphur 4 ounces, ginger ¼
oz., spirits of nitrous ether 1 oz., dissolve in warm water--give one
half of this twice a day, until the bowels are opened, continue until
relieved.
DISEASES OF THE EYE.
Diseases of the eye are generally inflammations, and caused by a bruise
or blow inflicted carelessly.
REMEDY:--First bathe the eye well with cold water several times, say some
ten or fifteen minutes at a time. Then use the following lotion. Take 40
grains sulphate of zinc, dissolve in ½ pint soft warm water, and bathe
the eyes until completely relieved.
THE HOOVE OR BLOWEN FROM PASTURE.
CAUSES:--The cause of Cattle becoming bloated, is from being turned into
the pasture in the spring of the year, whilst the pasture is young and
full of sap, the ox or cow eats greedily and rapidly, so much so that
the stomach is unable to propel forward, the portions of food as it is
received, and becomes overloaded and clogged, the food remaining in the
stomach too long. Then comes the great danger; what you can do must be
done at once, or not at all. The symptoms are plain enough, the beast
swells to an enormous extent, the breathing is very laborious, and the
beast is threatened with suffocation from the pressure of the stomach on
the lungs. The animal is lost unless relief is soon obtained.
REMEDY:--Relief is sometimes obtained from motion and running the beast
moderately; sometimes from placing tar, or a tar band into the mouth;
sometimes from taking salt and black pepper and throwing it down the
throat; some persons have run a lancet, or pocket knife, into the animal,
at the spot passing through the skin, and the wall of the belly, so as to
enter the paunch; this should be done midway between the last rib and the
haunch bone. Another excellent remedy is ½ oz. Chloride of Lime, put into
a pint or quart of warm water, and put into the stomach, these generally
give immediate relief. There are other remedies, which generally give
relief; such as Lime water--also 1½ ounces of Hartshorn may be given,
with 1½ pints of water, or 1 ounce Sulphuric Ether in 1 pint of water.
The following is plain and simple, and gives relief in almost every case.
This has been used extensively, and always given satisfaction.
RECEIPT:--Take two tablespoonsful Rappee Snuff, 1 gill Vinegar, 1 gill
Sweet Milk. Mix well and give as a drench. This has been thoroughly tried
and relieved nineteen cases out of twenty; it is simple and worthy of
attention. No time should be lost in this disease; what you can do must
be done at once, or not at all.
PREVENTATIVES:--Every Farmer should adopt the rule, to feed his cattle
the following:
Every morning, take 1 pint air slacked lime, 1 pint ground alum salt--mix
well and feed with offal. Every particle of the lime should be slacked.
Adopt this rule and you will have little or no trouble with your cattle.
Dose from 1 to 2 tablespoonsful every morning, in offal before turning
into pasture. Another preventative:--Take ashes, air slacked lime, and
ground alum salt, equal portions, and feed every morning, or if you have
not the lime, the salt and ashes will do well.
CHOKING.
Cattle are extremely liable to become choked on turnips, roots, apples,
potatoes.
REMEDY:--Give ½ pint of oil, which will lubricate the passage, then run
gag, or tube, or rod, with a knob at the end, down the throat; this
should be done carefully, so as not to injure the parts. Should you not
give relief by this means, find the position, or place where the apple,
or turnip has lodged. This may be done by pressing carefully along down
the throat; place a block on the one side of the object, then strike a
right smart blow with a mallet, or billet of wood, sufficient to crush
the apple or object to pieces, which will instantly be blown out, and the
animal relieved.
POISONS.
Little can be done in this, unless you have a pump, so as to extract the
poison from the stomach, then follow with physics.
EMBROCATION FOR BITE OF VIPER.
Take hartshorn, spirits camphor, olive oil, equal quantities--mix and rub
the wound, and neighboring parts well, morning and night.
One pint whiskey, 1 ounce hartshorn, 1 oz. spirits camphor, ½ pint warm
water should be given to the animal.
WOUNDS.