114 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



shall add one or two more, equally producive of this 

 misfortune. Cows are most liable to slink their 

 calves towards the latter end of the year, while feed- 

 ing on fog, or autumnal grass, or on low marsh and 

 fenny ground. Tn such situations, the air towards the 

 end of autumn becomes too moist for the right per- 

 formance of the animal functions; the body in conse- 

 quence becomes relaxed and debilitated, the perspira- 

 tion diminished, and the blood watery, which fre- 

 quently produce a preternatural determination of blood 

 to the calf-bed, that impairs the healthy actions of that 

 organ, and occasions abortion. It appears to originate, 

 in these instances, from the same causes as the red 

 water does ; only in the one, the calf-bed is affected ; 

 in the other, the kidneys. 



At other times, it has proceeded from the smell of 

 carrion, either exposed on the pasture, or buried too 

 slightly in the earth. The sense of smelling in horned 

 cattle is remarkably acute ; any very disagreeable scent 

 annoys them sadly, and, if it be not removed, will pro- 

 duce abortion. 



Treatment. — Cows that are in danger of slipping 

 their young, should be taken from the pasture or stable 

 the over night, and from two to three or four quarts of 

 blood should be taken from each beast, which, unless 

 the weather be damp, ought to stand in the open yard, 

 or open shed, till next morning: then give the follow- 

 ing purging drink : 



RECIPE No. 4. 



Epsom salts, 1 pound ; 



Nitre, 2 ounces ; 



Ginger and aniseeds, in powder, 1 ounce, each ; 

 Treacle 4 ounces. 



Pour three pints of boiling water upon the ingredients, and give 

 when neifr-milk warm. 



