242 ox FEVERS AMONGST HORSES, CATTLE, ETC. 



or other agency capable of acting upon the blood. It is well 

 known that cattle in many districts have access only to the 

 water of ponds in the farm-yards, or immediate locality of such 

 j)laces, into which the washing and drainage of manure find their 

 way, and yet no positive calamity can be traced to the practice. 

 Doubtless much, nay most, of the solid matter is quickly depo- 

 sited, and the supernatant fluid becomes an alkahne solution, 

 from the presence of potash, soda, and even ammonia salts, 

 which render it a more palatable drink than clear hard water, 

 which they always refuse if tlie other is present. 



The water of such ponds and stagnant ditches, &c., may, 

 however, become highly injurious when, from the surrounding 

 land, there is a drainage of solution containing the products of 

 refuse material — animal and otherwise, which liave resulted from 

 decomposition or nitrification. This is a totally distinct condi- 

 tion from that previously mentioned. W]iile in the first there 

 is a foul looking fluid, it, however, possesses salts which are 

 natural and necessary to the blood; but when the process of 

 nitrification is going on, there is manufactured not only acid 

 salts, such as nitrates of potash and soda, sulphates of lime, potash, 

 magnesia, and soda, with nitric acid and more or less organic 

 matter probably in a state of decomposition. Professor Voelcker 

 found in one instance from a number of investigations, that one 

 imperial gallon of such water contained 235 grains of solid 

 ' matter composed of the salts already named, and although clear 

 looking water it was really " very foul indeed." * It must not 

 be understood that we encourage the use of the foul looking 

 water of farmyard ponds for the horses and cattle. We are sure 

 it frequently appears much worse than it is, for a small quantity 

 of drainage will suftice to give a deep colour to a large body of 

 water ; yet nevertheless there may be a greater admixture of 

 drainage than is suspected, and, in addition, for we can never be 

 safe, the abundant elements of decomposition producing the 

 worst forms of disease. In all cases cattle should have an 

 abundant supply of clear, soft water for drinking, and when hard 

 water only is obtained, the addition of a few grains per gallon 

 of the carbonates of soda or potash will remedy all the defects 

 which belong to it. 



The want of water often proves very injurious to stock; and in 

 no instances is it so plainly marked as when cattle are placed 

 in stalls for feeding, and there supplied largely with oilcake, 

 various kinds of meal, and few turnips ; and also when they are 

 turned out on marshy lands diiring the hottest months, grass 

 being scarce and highly impregnated with manurial products, 

 and the drains, ponds, or rivulets dry or stagnant. In the first 

 we have all the essential conditions of , blood-poisoning from 



* Discussion : Koyal .\,£cricultnr<'il Society of Ensjland. July 9, 1862. Jouriml. 



