CATTLE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



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wound in various directions, the conse- 

 quence of which will be that so much in- 

 flammation and swelling will usually be 

 produced as fairly to block up the orifice 

 with that which soon becomes organized, 

 or converted into the same substance as 

 that in contact with which it is placed, 

 and thus the opening into the joint is se- 

 curely and for ever stopped ; or, should 

 the joint oil in a very few cases after- 

 wards flow a little again, a re-application 

 of the iron will put an end to the busi- 

 ness : the sore may then be treated as a 

 common wound. 



In many cases a lotion composed of 

 corrosive sublimate dissolved in spirits of 

 wine, applied several times a day to the 

 surface of the wound, only until the joint 

 oil disappears, will answer the purpose 

 better than the hot iron. In very severe 

 cases, where the carcass of the animal is 

 of trifling value, and it is, therefore, de- 

 sirable to attempt a cure at all risks, the 

 application of a paste made with flour, 

 and firmly bound round the part by a 

 number of linen bandages, will, by pre- 

 venting the flow of joint oil, succeed in 

 closing the joint in many cases : the band- 

 ages, however, should not be removed 

 for several weeks, and if necessary the 

 animal may be slung. 



Should, however, the wound be very 

 large, and the opening into the joint 

 large too, it will usually be prudent to 

 destroy the animal at once, especially if it 

 is in tolerable condition. A dead horse 

 is worth comparatively little, but a dead 

 ox, fairly slaughtered, will produce its full 

 value. Therefore, the possibility of a 

 cure not being effected, or of the animal 

 materially losing condition while the cure 

 is attempted to be performed, should 

 always be taken into account; and in 

 cases where the meat is not injured, it 

 should be inquired whether the expense 

 and trouble, and the sufferings of the 

 animal, should not be at once terminated 

 by the butcher. 



In every joint case it will be prudent 

 to bleed, and administer a dose of physic, 

 and use all proper means to prevent or 

 abate fever. 



CATTLE, Strains and Bruises. — The 

 ox is not so subject as the horse to 

 strains, for his work is slower and usually 

 less laborious. The horse is seldom 

 strained at slow and steady work, and 



that only is generally exacted from the 

 ox. The principal cause of strain in 

 these animals arises from their contests 

 with, or their riding or ramping each 

 other. 



In recent strains, attended with lame- 

 ness and heat, the Embrocation for 

 Strains (See No. 57, Domestic Animals, 

 Medicines for) is one of the best that 

 can be used. 



Bathe the part frequently with this 

 embrocation. There cannot be a better 

 application for strains or bruises in the 

 horse or cattle, or even in the human 

 being, when the skin is not broken. 

 When the heat and tenderness have 

 somewhat subsided, and only weakness of 

 the part remains, the Rheumatic Embro- 

 cation, No. 9, will be serviceable. 



Frequent fomentations with warm water 

 should precede the use of these embroca- 

 tions. In bad cases it may be prudent 

 to give a doze of physic, or even to 

 bleed. 



For very deeply-seated strains a more 

 powerful application may be necessary. 

 Then use the Strongest Embrocation for 

 Strains. (See Domestic Animals, Medi- 

 cines for.) 



This should be well rubbed in morning 

 and night. It is not intended absolutely 

 to blister the animal; and should the em- 

 brocation cause much redness or tender- 

 ness, it may be lowered with an equal 

 quantity of olive oil. 



After all, a considerable degree of 

 weakness and lameness will occasionally 

 remain, and especially about the hips and 

 loins. A strengthening plaster (See No. 

 53, Domestic Animals, Medicines for), 

 will be very useful here. It is best ap- 

 plied in the form of a charge. 



A little short tow is then placed over 

 this, before it gets cool, and which, ad- 

 hering to it, forms a thick coat over it. 

 The charge acts as a support to the part, 

 and as a permanent bandage. It can 

 never do harm ; and many an old strain, 

 or lameness, or rheumatic affection, has 

 been effectually removed by it. It should 

 remain on the part two or three months, 

 in order to insure its full success; and 

 after the application of the charge, the 

 beast should be turned out. 



Although not exposed so much as the 

 horse to strains generally, yet there is 

 one joint — the fetlock — in the ox, which. 



