66 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. 



The disease prevailed to a great extent in Orange County, New York 

 in the year 1820, and is very well and minutely described by Dr. Arnell, 

 corres])onding- secretary of the agricultural society of that county- 

 The facts detailed by him leave no doubt of the deaths of numerous 

 cattle in his vicinity being caused by their eating hay made from some 

 grass that was affected with the species of ergot observed in the pro- 

 duce of the meadows before mentioned, for he expressly mentions that 

 the spear grass g^^ew in the meadows in the towns of Wallkill and Bloom- 

 ing Grove, where the disease prevailed, and in a bog meadow soil. 

 Dr. A. remarks that, '' the hay w^as cut in June or beginning of July, 

 immediately before harvest; that only cattle in good condition suffered 

 from eating the diseased hay, the poor and meager escaping.'' The 

 means of prevention pointed out by Dr. Arnell are similar to that ju- 

 dically recommended by Mr. Woodman, viz., to cut the grass early, be- 

 fore the ergot forms ; or, if it be found in the grass, to defer cutting it 

 until late, when ex])erience proves that it may be safely used; for 

 Dr. A. remarks that " the ergot then becomes dry and shriveled, with- 

 out any of the flour or vegeto-animal matter which it usuallj' contains.'? 

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

 because Dr. A. says truly that " this spear grass is so early that 

 if left to stand till the usual time of mowing meadows it loses all its 

 succulent and nutritious properties." This agrees with our experience 

 with respect to the spear grass of Pennsylvania, where it ripens next 

 in order to the early Anthroxanthum odoratiim, or sweet-scented meadow 

 grass. Still, however, it may be useful by answering one purpose of 

 food in all animals : to stimulate by distention, and to add to the stock 

 of barn-yard manure. The various remedies tried to cure the disease 

 in Xew York are enumerated by Dr. Arnell. Those that succeeded 

 were: 



1. Poultices of soa]), 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 washing and rubbing the feet 

 with the bitter-sweet ointment. Of the animals thus treated, one only 

 lost its hoof. 



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 op-J 

 eration of tlie drench corn meal, rye, or oatmeal, mixed with a large ])ro-' 

 portion of warm water, and a handful of common salt to every bucket 

 of it, should be freely given. The use of hay free from ergot is as ob- 

 viously in(lisi)ensable. A handful of salt should be given every day to 

 promote digestion and give tone to the system. Tlie local apiilications 

 must be of a stimulating nature to rouse the activity of the circulation 

 and of the absorbents, and to enable the i)art laboring under a deti- 



