4 

 186 EVERY MAN HIS OWN FARRIER 



of the issue between the claws or hoofs, which exist 

 in all ruminating animals, and which are very much 

 like the issues so generally known in the back part 

 of the fore legs of pigs ; the stoppage of which pro- 

 duces disease, and eventually death, unless remedied. 



The hoof ail indiscriminately attacks thin and fat 

 cattle, and very considerable impressions are enter- 

 tained that it is contagious ; therefore till the contrary 

 is proved, it is safer so to consider it. 



From a very careful comparison of eases (from 

 memory only) it appears to affect cattle who are in a 

 feverish state, from various exciting causes ; as over 

 work ; sudden changes from hard work to rest, and 

 higher feeding, (a practice very common with farmers 

 after working their cattle hard all winter, as a prepa- 

 ration for their spring's work ;) being out in a storm ; 

 or being driven much, and kept long in the mud. In 

 cows and young cattle, it seems to take either those 

 that are brought from worse keeping to better ; or the 

 finest and best cattle in the yard. But all these obser- 

 vations may be erroneous ; for the disease often ap- 

 pears suddenly, without any apparent cause ; affecting 

 individuals of the same stock tied in different parts of 

 the barn, and in entirely different cases as to condi- 

 tion, exposure, &c. &c. It however, very frequently 

 goes through a whole stock, though it does not appear 

 to follow in regular succession, according to proximity 

 in the stable or in the yoke. This may arise, either 

 from contagion or the same exciting causes, operating 

 on the whole. In short, it is a disease very terrible 

 in its effects at times, and which does not appear to be 

 understood. As very few cases of perfect recovery 

 take place in a violent attack, and, as in all cases 

 the recovery is very tedious, we should rather pre- 

 vent than cure; for which end we must carefully 



