lo Aug., 1909.] Answers to Correspondents. 54^ 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



The Staff of the Department has been orjiaiiized t(i a liruv cxtint for Ihe imriiose of ffiving iiiforination 

 to furiiiers. Questions in every Ijranch of a^noiiltiire are l:1:i II.\ answered. Write a sliort letter, jjivinjf as 

 full partieularti as possible, of your local eonditions, and state i ricisely what it is that yoti want to know. 

 All iiiLjuiries must be acoompaiiied by the name and address ot the writer. 



Strangles. — W.B. asks what treatment is recommended for horses affected with 

 Strangles ? 



Ansiver. — Put the horses on a soft hixative diet ; steam the head twice daily with 

 30 drops of turpentine on boiling water ; rub the glands of the throat with a mild 

 stimulating liniment, and, when they " jmint,"' open them at the lowest point, and 

 then twice a day syringe out the wound with a solution of perchloride of mercury, i 

 part, water 1,000 parts. Give in the drinking water 2 ozs. hyposulphite of soda to 

 every bucketful. 



Non-service by Bull. — H.J. states that his bull, 3 years old, refuses to serve 

 the cows. The bull is fed on lucerne hay and green feed, and is in first-rate condition. 

 Occasionally the bull goes out with the cows, but about half the time he is kept in 

 an enclosure, 8 }ards square. 



Answer. — It would be wise to reduce the condition of the bull very considerably 

 and give plenty of exercise; the yard is far too small. If, when in poor condition, 

 lie does not show more vigour, try the giving in the feed, night and morning, for a 

 fortnight, of powdered nux vomica, i dram; carbonate of ammonia, g oz. ; gentian, 

 5 oz. During the period of reducing his condition do not allow him service. 



Injured Fetlock. — J.McP. states that a foal belonging to him got caught in a 

 plain wire fence, and both sides of the hind fetlock were cut deeply. The wound was 

 treated with Ivsol, lime-water, and olive oil, and has almost healed, but the swelling 

 remains. He asks how to reduce the latter? 



Answer. — It would be impossible to reduce the leg to normal, as there will always 

 be a certain amount of scar tissue. In time, however, it will be found that the 

 swelling will slowly reduce without interference. It is not wise to apply blisters, 

 &c., for some time after healing of the wound. About three weeks after such 

 healing a red blister may be applied with benefit. 



Nail in Horse's Foot. — A.H.I, asks which is the most efficacious method to 

 adopt when a nail enters deeply the sole of a horse's foot alongside the frog. 



Answer. — The hoof must be pared away over the seat of puncture and right 

 down to the sensitive sole so as to insure perfect drainage for any pus which may 

 accumulate. Then the part is washed out thoroughly with an antiseptic, such as 

 carbolic acid i part, water 20 parts, and the opening plugged with cotton wool and 

 kept clean and dry by enclosing the foot in several thicknesses of sacking. 



Discharge from Mare. — L.B. writes — " A mare of mine has for nearly two 

 months been passing small quantities of blood from the vagina. The mare is 

 aged and seven months in foal. Her health and condition are excellent, and there 

 is. no ap|)earance of pain or inconvenience." 



Ansttier. — Without an examination it is difficult to sav the cause. Are you 

 sure she is in foal? If so, nothing can be done until after parturition, when if 

 Ihe trouble continues write again in regard to the matter. 



Contracted Tendons. — J.B. writes — " I have a valuable medium draught 

 horse that I do not wish to destroy. It has had corns on one of its hind hoofs, 

 and somebody, in trying to cut them out, has so injured tTie foot that the animal 

 walks on its toe. The back tendons or finews are contracted. Can the horse be 

 cured by a surgical operation?" 



A7iswer. — An operation can be performed for overcoming the contracted ten- 

 dons, but it would be advisable to try the effect first of a shoe having a project- 

 ing piece of iron in the toe some two or three inches long and turned laack 

 against the hoof so as to avoid catching in logs, (S:c. Gradually the weight of 

 the limb acting on this lever stretches the tendons back. 



Lupins. — J.R.M. wishes to know whether the lupin bean has any feeding 

 value. 



AnsTver. — Lupins are especially valuable for green manuring on poor sandv 

 soils rendering those fit for ordinary cultivation. They contain more digestible 

 albuminoids (nitrogen food) than any other crop, and hence are sometimes fed to 

 sheep green or in the form of hay. Their bitter taste usually make them un- 

 jialalable at first, especially to horses and cattle, and, in addition, they sometimes 

 contain a poisonous alkaloid, lufinot oxine, of which moderate quantities rapidly 

 produce fatal results. The poison is destroyed by steaming the fodder under moderate 

 pressure (1-2 atmospheres). Lupins have a deep root, stand drought fairly well, 

 but cannot stand chalky soil, stagnant water, or black peatv or humus soils. 



