FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 261 



mashed fine and well mixed with its milk. Another directs, 

 that powdered chalk, mixed with wheat-flour, and made 

 into balls with gin (brandy would seem to be better) be 

 given the animal, as a safe medicine. 



Calves are also liable to colds; in which case they should 

 have a treatment similar to older Neat-cattle. 



We have read a theoretical essay, of the late Dr. Rush^ 

 on the diseases of cattle, writen with his usual ability. His 

 theory is this : That similar causes produce similar diseases 

 in the Human, and in the brute, creation; and that the most 

 proper cur? for the disease, in either case, is pretty much 

 the same. He also contends, that the diseases of each are 

 often simultaneous; produced by the same generally-pre- 

 vailing causes. 



We are aware, that the most eminent of the Descend- 

 ants of Aesculafiius have laid the foundation of their fame 

 on some new theory, often more or less incorrect ; but we 

 are induced to concede to this, as being fundamentally true, 

 and worthy of due consideration by all who attempt the 

 healing art, upon cattle of every description. 



We shall merely add, that in Norfolk county, in England, 

 which is famous for its numbers of Neat-cattle, the /lolled 

 breed is in almost universal use. The Cows of this breed 

 are excelent milkers; and their inability to be mischivious, 

 from their want of horns, would seem to entitle them to a 

 preference. 



Mr. P. Coofier, of N-wjersey, however, deprives his 

 horned cattle of their horns, when he thinks proper, by 

 taking the Calves, when about a month old, and the horns 

 have risen above the skin, and cuting off the knobs close 

 with a chisel; then, with a sharp gouge, paring them oft' 

 clean to the bone, searing the wounds thus made, and filling 

 them with hogslard, which completes the operation. 



In the foregoing observations, which are rather miscella- 

 neous in point of form, no attention has been paid to the 

 various terms which many English Farmers and Graziers 

 apply to cattle of different kinds, ages, and conditions, fur- 

 ther than such terms are usual in this Country. We have 

 plain English enough for every purpose ot this kind ; and 

 there is no need of Farmers having a vocabulary for cattle, 

 consisting of barbarous words, which none but themselves 

 would be likely to understand. 



NETTLE (Urtica.) It is said, that this plant is more 



iductwe in fibre, than hemp, on a given quantity of 



That the texture of its fibre is finer and stronger, 



ian that ot hemp, has been long known to the early Set- 



s on the Mohawk river; as this plant greatly abounded 



the nchj mucky, new lands in that quarter, before they 



