C i08] 



To prevent Cows from sucking themselves. By Charles 



Roberts. 



Philadelphia, Q>th mo. {June) I9th, 1820. 



Esteemed Friend, 



A FRIEND of mine informs me that in a part of Ches- 

 ter county when it is desirable to prevent cows or calves 

 from sucking, the end of the tongue is slit for about 

 three- fourths of an inch. When it heals, it is forked, and 

 ever after prevents their forming a vacuum in the mouth, 

 without which they cannot suck a single drop. When 

 I was a cow-boy^ I well remember that one of the greatest 

 crimes a cow could commit was to suck herself, and 

 death was the inevitable consequence the succeeding 

 autumn : much trouble was also after experienced from 

 weaning-calves getting amongst the milch cows. 



Should this simple preventive (which I suspect is but 

 little known) prove useful, perhaps it may not be unac- 

 ceptable to the Agricultural Society. 



Thy friend, 



Charles Roberts, , 



Roberts Faux, 

 Sec. Philad, Agric, Soc, 



