For some years past, a great many cattle have died from a disease of the
lungs, for which I believe no effectual antidote has been discovered. This
fact having been mentioned to a German in London, who had formerly been a
_Rossarzt_ or veterinary surgeon in the Prussian army, he stated that he
had known a similar disease to prevail in Germany; and that by
administering a decoction of _Erica communis_ (Common Heath), mixed with
tar, the progress of the disease had in many instances been arrested.
In order, therefore, that the British farmer may obtain the benefit of this
gentleman's experience, and that he may receive all manner of justice, I
beg leave to send you a literal copy of the recipe which he was kind enough
to give _pro bono publico_.
"REMEDY AGAINST THE PRESENT DISEASE AMONG CATTLE.
"Taken Erika communis, and boiled it into water of such quantity, that
the water after boiling coloured like beer; generally of a pinte of
water 1/4--1/2 lb. Erika communis, and boiling 5 to 6 hours. After it
is be done, filled the fluids trough a seive in ather boiler, and mixed
the same with 1/20 part of common tear. In order to make a good
composition from it, you must boiling the tear and the fluide to a
second time of 2--3 hour's and much storret. After then the medecin is
to by ready.
"Everry cattle sicke or well must you giving of three times to day,
everry time one pot from the said mixture, which you have befor keapet
a little warm but not to much heat. Keepet werry much from the fluide
of Erika communis not mixed with tear, and give to drinke the cattle a
much as possible. Everry cattle liked to drinke such fluide.
"Becom's the tongue stick, black pumpels, or becom's the mouth and
palatt red and sort, washe it out with a softe brush deyed in a mixture
as follow described: One part of hony, 3 parts of vinaigre, 3 parts of
water, and one half part of burned and grinded allumn.
"Becom's the cattle in the legs, generally in the klawes, washed the
sores with cold water, that you mixed 1 once white vitriol, and 1 once
burned allumn of a pint of water, 3--4 times to day, and keepet the
cattle everry time day's and night's in the open air of meadows or
lots. Everry cattle become's in the first time that it is driven out
the stables to the green feeding of meadow's, &c. a little sickness,
generally a little diarrhae, and this is a remedy against the disease
as before stated.
"If you continnuit with the firste remedy, you should findet that the
cattle becom's a verry slight influence of the said disease."