On the Hoof disease. 201 



vegeto-animal matter, which it usually contains." But 

 the hay made from such late made grass, must be of little 

 value, because Dr. A. says truely, that "this spear i^rass, is 

 so early, that if left to stand until the usual time of mow- 

 ing meadows, it loses all its succulent and nutritious pro- 

 perties.'^ 7'his agrees with our experience, with respect 

 to the spear grass in Pennsvlvania, where it ripens next 

 in order, to the early anthoxanthum odoratum^ or sweet- 

 scented meadow grass. Still, however, it may be useful, 

 by answering one purpose of food in all animals ; to sti- 

 mulate by distension, and to add to the stock of barn- 

 yard manure. The various remedies, tried to cure the 

 disease in New York, are enumerated bv Dr. Arnell. — 

 Those that succeeded were : 



1. Poultices of soap, rye-meal, and salt, to the legs, and 

 feet. 



2. A wash of beef brine, composed of saltpetre, and 

 common salt, applied several times a day, and after wash- 

 ing and rubbing the feet, with the bitter-srweet ointment.* 

 OF the animals thus treated, one only lost its hoofs. 



In the treatment of the disease, the first object to be 

 attended to, is to remove the cause producing it. This 

 is to be effected, by drenches of castor oil, or sweet oil 

 and molasses and water warmed, to which may be added, 

 if found necessary, after the failure to operate of the first 

 dose, half a pound of glauber salts, dissolved in warm 

 water. During the operation of the drench, corn-meal, 

 rye, or oatmeal, mixed with a large proportion of warm 

 water, and an handful of common salt to every bucket of it, 

 should be freely given. The use of hay free from ergot is as 



* Bitter-sweet, or woody night shade, {solanum dulcamara) a 

 well known medical plant ; long used in Europe. It is question- 

 able whether from this external remedy, any benefit was derived 

 in the case of the cattle, except from the effects of the friction 

 used in its application. 



