36 AGEICULTUKAL KEPORT. 



that the disease consists of a peculiar disorder q^ the liver, caused by a diseased state of 

 the blood; the bile secreted Irom the same iu turn disorders the digestive function and 

 produces an unhealthy gastric juice. No treatment has been found effectrve. 'Po a cer- 

 tain degi*ee the disease may be prevented by avoiding all smutty, rusty, mufjty, or over- 

 ripenetl corn, and by feeding roots always seasoned with a little salt, with iiu abun- 

 dance but not an overplus of poire, clear water. 



Iu Bedford, Tennessee, several deaths are attributed to tjbe same 

 cause. In Washington, Kansas, disease, attributed to eating smutty 

 stalks, has been fatal in few cases. 



Our correspondent in Orange County, Florida, refers to the preva- 

 lence of " salt-sick," attributing it to the deficiency of phosphates in 

 the grass. A similar report comes fpom Levy County, Florida. Cattle 

 began to look badly in September, after the wet season and high w^ter 

 of August, and nearly one-third have since died. 



"Black-tongue" has been very fatal in Suwanee, Florida, destroying 

 from one-tenth to one-half of several herds, while others were entirely 

 exempt. ''The throat swells at the root of the tongue, as iu horse-dis- 

 temper, and prevents the animal from eating." The same disease has 

 prevailed in Worth County, Georgia, where the loss has been greater than 

 the natural increase. " The symptoms are stifi'ness in the legs, turning 

 around and staggering, slavering, tongue black and coated, unable to 

 eat." 



The following extracts from correspondence give accounts of several 

 nameless, misnamed, or unknown diseases : 



James City, Virginia. — Several cows have been singularly aifected this winter : two 

 milch cows with weakness of loins and partial loss oi use of hind legs, and one with 

 inflammation of eyes, bordering on blindness. These animals appeared well in other 

 respects, and had good appetites. They improved on a change of food from corn to 

 rutabagas. 



Lunenhurgh, Virginia. — Apost-mortem examination was made upon some cattle lost last 

 summer from a disease called " distemper." It was found that the lii-st stomach was 

 highly inflamed, and contained considerable quantities of old-field grass, called 

 " broom," (embracing three distinct sjiecies of Andror)Of/on,) in an undigested state and 

 compacted into hard wads. If these cases were really distemj)er, the examination 

 showed the immediate cause of death, but did not make it clear whether the digegtivo 

 organs were deranged, or the substance entirely indigestible. 



Stokes, North Carolina. — A fever called distemper or murrain has carried off many 

 cattle— two-thirds of all attacked — although many farmers profess to be able to cure 

 it. Costiveness and discharge of bloody water usually are symj)toms. I have used 

 with success, for many years, as a preventive, a mixture of equal parts of lime and salt 

 placed where the animals had free access to it. 



Kendall, Texas. — During last December twenty-six head of cattle died upon three 

 farms from a disease suj)posed at the time to be hydrophobia. The symptoms were 

 distended nostrils, wild and glassy appearance in the eye, and frothing at the rnouth. 



Fayette, Tennessee. — Considerable loss from what was called murrain. It commenced 

 during the drought of last fall, and is believed to have been caused by the grass be- 

 coming too dry to digest properly, and a plentiful supply of water not accessible. The 

 consequence, obstruction, followed by death. There have been no cases where farmers 

 have been careful to keep their cattle loose iu the bowels; no remedy where the 

 disease once got a firm hold. 



Ilenville, Minnesota. — Considerable mortality from drinking bad, stagnant water. A 

 mixture of six parts salt, two parts suli^hur, and one of saltpeter, has been found 

 valuable. 



MecJccr, Minnesota. — During some seasons past considerable numbers of cattlo Vave 

 had swellings on the lower jaw, breaking out into thick, ropy discharges for several 

 mouths. Several deaths have occurred. No name nor cure for this disease has been 

 found. 



From Mr. Eoger Conant we have the printed report of a committee 

 appointed to investigate the causes of a new disease which has been 

 prevailing to a considerable extent among the cattle iu the vicinity of 

 Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, Calitbrnia. From this report we learn 

 that the first symptom of the cXisease is a desire to rub some part of 



