Vol. XIII. Xo. 324. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



U:'. 



DISEASES OF ANIMALS.^ Ry X. .s. Mmv,. M.S.. 

 1).V..S., Xew York; The Macmillan Co., 1913. 



This liook wa.s first issued under tlie titli- Can- ot 

 Animals. It is stated in the prefaie tliat the name is now 

 changed in order that tlie contents ot the book may lie better 

 expressed. Tlie advisability of this alteration is open to 

 (piestion. since the principal aim has been to give concise, 

 jiractical directions that can be used by thcvse wlio have to 

 f\i^ with the care of animals, and not to present infonnatiim for 

 the use of those who make the disease.s f>f animals a special 

 ,study. We think, in fact, that thc>se sectifm.s of the Avork 

 which deal entirely with the care of animals, for exanii)le, the 

 breaking in of animals, the transport of animals, and the 

 nursing of animals are likely to prove just as useful, it not 

 more .so, in the hands of the agriculturist than the account 

 of infectious diseases like anthrax and Texas fever. How- 

 ever, this is a minor ]K)int in forming a ju:lginent of a book 

 which, as a whole, is undoubtedly one nf the most useful 

 of its kind that has come under nur notice. 



The first chapter gives general advice as regards the 

 care of animals, including reference to exercise and pmtec- 

 tion. The care of animals is then cimsidered in regard t" 

 their requirements in the .stables and the yards. This 

 chapter includes gocxl sections on (juarantine and the impor- 

 tance of bedding. A rather unexpected bmnch of the 

 .subject of animal management is that which comes in 

 Chapter III — the care of pets. In the course of this chapter 

 the educational value i>f pets as a hobliy for children is very 

 pioperly emphasized, and we might with advantage suggest 

 that more attention be given to this matter in the West 

 Indies. The section on the training of dogs is particularly 

 good, though rather more space than is perhajis necessiuy 

 is accorded to the care of cats. 



Chapter IV deals entirely with the judging and handling 

 of the horse. In this the age, points, and style, together 

 with the training and breaking in and the curing of bafl 

 liabits are dealt with in a concise and practical manner. On 

 account of its great practical imjiortance a whole chapter 

 is devoted to lameness and shoeing. 



After describing the general indications of disease in 

 animals, the author proceeds to descrilie the treatment of sick 

 animals, which really amounts to a most useful description of 

 nursing methods. The ways to give medicine are both 

 described and illustrated, and the means employed in 

 the confining or restraining of animals are equally well 

 told. Figure 36 shows how a horse may be thrown by means 

 of side lines, and figure -M illustrates the half-hitch method 

 of throwing a bull. The author very justly devotes several 

 pages to the subject of disinfection and antiseptics. It is 

 undoubtedly a fact that there is consideralile scope ffir 

 increased employment of disinfectants and aseptic methods 

 generall.v in the yartl and stable, not only in the United 

 .States for which this book has been specially written, l)Ut 

 in the West Indies as well. 



For the convenience of the stockman and horseman, whcp 

 .are the chief persons written for in this book, the various 



simple surgical treatments em]jloyeil in the cure of injuries- 

 aie briefly described in Chapter VIII. The .stockman is told of 

 the first aid treatment f)f wounds and various other external 

 injuries induced by organic disea.ses. The chapter includes ■ 

 also a .section on castrating, caponizing and spaying. 



Rreeding and veterinary obstetrics receive attention in 

 ('hai)ter l.\. The usual information <'onnected with parturition 

 anil the attendant diseases are given, and the autlmr does not 

 fail to add a little note at the end on caring for the young 

 an<l weaning. Di.sea.ses and injuries of the bones, limlis and 

 .joints are clealt with next, and this is followed by an ei{ually 

 useful chapter on the diseases of the alimentary tract, and of 

 the digestive functions .Ml the ailments referred to are those 

 with which the experienced farmer is well familiar, but it is 

 certain that his efficiency will bo advanced l>.y studying the- 

 instructions carefully given by the author of this book. 

 Chaiiter .\1I deals with the disea.ses aft'ecting the respiratory 

 sy.stem, such as bronchitis and pneumonia: and those disea.ses. 

 attecting the brain and the nervous .system are described in 

 the chapter which follows. These latter ailments, or rather 

 fatal maladies, include lock-jaw and apoplexy. The diseases, 

 attecting the skin and the eye are of course inipoi-tant and 

 are outlined briefly in Chapter XIV. 



It is often the ca.se that those who lia\e not had the advan- 

 tage of a training in biology pos.sfss liniited views as to what 

 jiarasites are, especially concerning tho.se organisms which are 

 oidy partially parasitic. Ry describing diseases, I'hiefly of the 

 skill, like ring-ivorm, scab of sheeii and cattle, mange of dogs 

 and bots in .sheep, horses and cattle, as well as tick.s. the author 

 presents to the reader's mind a very clear idea of the formid- 

 able enemies which the stock owner has to face in respect 

 of his care for the animals he owns. In the southern States, 

 and in the West Indies, great importance attaches to ticks 

 and worms living as paiasites in the alimentary canal, and 

 the author might with advantage have devoted a little more 

 space to these matters. The di.seases produced by the more 

 or less highly organized parasites just described, are 

 followed by an account of contagious and infectious diseases 

 induced liy bacteria. It is hardly necessary to do more 

 than mention this fact, as the explanations given are 

 |)erfectl.y orthcxlox and present no special points of interest. 



The last chapter but one is concerned with miscellaneou.-! 

 diseases. Many of the.se are not caused by specific organisms, 

 though, Hs a jwint of interest, it may be mentioned that a few 

 of them like actinomycosis of cattle and ergot poisoning are 

 caused by fungi. This chapter includes an account of several 

 kinds of injury set up in the digestive tract by certain foods. 

 Mould.v corn causes staggers, whilst cotton-seed meal fed in 

 too large a quantity gives ri.se to a disease of the nervous 

 system. 



The book concludes with a collection of recipes and brief 

 advice. This latter section, entitled Rrief Advice on the 

 Commoner Diseases, might in a time of emergency serve 

 a very useful purpose, because the information fully to the 

 point is given under the name of each disease arranged in 

 alphalietical order, and at the end of each note the number 

 of the page in the book is given where further information is 

 to lie found. Incidentally this section, which is in fact 

 a summary of the whole book, should be u.seful for revision 

 purposes in the case of agricultural students preparing for 

 e.xamination. There is a good index consisting of ten pages- 

 (two columns to a Jiage) of well selected references. 



It is liy no means always the case that a l)Ook written 

 primarily for a temperate country can be recommended to- 

 those interested in its subject under tropical conditions. la 

 this particular case tliere can be no hesitation in doing so, ' 



