22 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



worthy a patent. I have thought and talked of the same 

 plan years ago, but gave it up as worthless. The interest 

 on the cost extra over wood posts, will amount to enough 

 and more, than to pay for replacing them. I cannot dis- 

 cover "its cheapness." And unless made very heavy, these 

 posts will not prove "imperishable." They are not so 

 strong as stone; and unless very hard burnt, will rot 

 about as soon as locust or cedar timber, and be very likely 

 to be broken by frost. If this country must continue for 

 ever to be taxed one hundred millions of dollars a year 

 for useless fencing, the sooner we commence building iron 

 fences the better. (See January No., page 171.) I mean 

 my language to be plain enough to show that I am not 

 "on the fence." 



Symptoms of Disease in Animals. — Will you please to 

 tell us where to feel the pulse, and how to know whether 

 it is "full and frequent," or not? Otherwise this article 

 is not of much practical benefit to us unlearned diggers of 

 the soil. Veterinary surgical knowledge is at a very low 

 ebb in this country. [The poets say, "there is a pulse in 

 every vein ;" so now, Mr. Reviewer, we think you will be 

 at no loss to find it. If you are, call upon the arteries; 

 and if you cannot find these, the next time you skin an 

 animal, just map them out on a paper or wooden animal, 

 and set the same up on your kitchen mantel-piece for the 

 study of yourself and family. All this is easier done than 

 plowing straight lines.] 



Use of Gypsum, &c. — Although you "presume that most 

 intelligent farmers are perfectly acquainted with every- 

 thing concerning it," I assure you that not one-tenth of 

 them know anything about it. To many of your readers, 

 I presume your remarks of its uses and benefits will be 

 new; and it will also be new for them to learn, that by 

 using a small quantity of gypsum at a trifling expense, 

 they may absorb and prevent nearly all the unpleasant 

 smell of a privy, &c. Will one in ten do it? Tan bark 

 applied daily will effect the same purpose; so will ashes 

 or lime in a great measure. 



