200 On the Hoof disease. 



their cattle were affected with the disease, are careful to 

 mow much earlier than they did formerly. 



I am strongly induced to believe, that Mr. Cooj^er as- 

 cribes the disease, to the proper cause ; for I have been 

 correctly informed, that a load of the injurious hay was sold 



to Rogers, who at that time kept the Buck Tavern, 



in Second street, whose cow , in consequence of feeding 

 on it, was affected with a disease of a similar nature. 



Your friend, &c. 



W. T. Woodman. 



The disease prevailed to a great extent in Orange 

 county, New York, in the year 1820, and is very well 

 and minutely described by Dr. Arnell, corresponding se- 

 cretary of the Agricultural Society of that county.* The 

 facts detailed by him, leave no doubt of the deaths of 

 numerous cattle in his vicinity, being caused by their eat- 

 ing hay, made from some grass that was affected with 

 the species of ergot, observed in the produce of the mea- 

 dows before mentioned, for he expressly mentions that 

 the spear grass grew in the meadows, in the town% of 

 Wallkill and Blooming Grove, where the disease pre- 

 vailed, and in a bog- meadow soil. Dr. A. remarks, that, 

 <* the hay was cut in June, or beginning of July, imme- 

 diately before harvest : that, only catUe in good condition, 

 suffered from eating the diseased hay, the poor and mea- 

 gre escaping." The means of prevention, pointed out by 

 Dr. Arnell, are similar to that, judiciously recommended 

 by Mr. Woodman, viz. to cut the grass, early before the 

 ergot forms ; or, if it be found in the grass, to deter cut- 

 ting it until late, when experience proves, that it may be 

 safely used; for Dr. A. remarks, that ** the ergot then 

 becomes dry, and shrivelled, without any of the flour, or 



* Albany Plough Boy, vol. 3. p. 44, 



