THE EMIGRANT'S HAND-BOOK. 191 



MAD ITCH. 



The effect upon cattle following hogs that are fed 

 on green corn, cut up and thrown to them when in the 

 roasting-ear state, is very fatal. The hogs will chew 

 the corn-stalk, and extract all the sap, and then throw it 

 out. These fibres thus thrown out, with all the sap ex- 

 tracted, will be eaten voraciously by the cattle. It con- 

 tains no nutriment, to give fermentation to enable the 

 animal to ruminate ; and it thus lays dormant and inac- 

 tive in the many folds, or stomach ; becomes perfectly 

 compact and indigestible ; creates fever, and in the end 

 destroys the animal. 



Cattle destroyed by eating these fibres of the corn-stalk, 

 will first show the symptom by a wild stare of the eye ; 

 and in its first stages will frequently become cross, and 

 even attack their keepers. They will then begin to rub 

 the nose and head against the fence, until the skin and 

 flesh are torn and lacerated in a most frightful manner, 

 and in the end die in great misery. I have lost many 

 fine cattle in this way, and have never been able to save 

 one thus afflicted. The entire symptoms are similar to 

 what is called the mad itch, which I have no doubt is 

 created by the same cause, taking into the many folds 

 indigestible matter, incapable of fermentation and rumi- 

 nation. 



THE MANGE. 



Cattle that are kept well, and properly taken care of, 

 will not have this disease, unless they take it by con- 

 tagion. 



SYMPTOMS. Sometimes there is an eruption on the 

 skin ; the animal appears hide-bound ; the hair is dry and 

 wiry ; the hair comes off easily ; the animal is constantly 

 rubbing itself; a white scurf appears on the skin. 



