352 QUARTERLY JOURNAL. 



thinnest part of the shoulder, which will be near the upper margin 

 of the shoulder-blade, holding the knife as you would ;i pen when 

 writing, and scratch up the membrane tnat covers the bone for a 

 space the size of a silver dollar ; the knife may be then withdrawn. 

 The knife may then be introduced in one or two places below the 

 first, and used in the same way, and the operation is over." Now, 

 if the disease be in the shoulder, lliis method can only cure by 

 rousing the vessels to action. Blistering will do this better, and is 

 more humane and less dangerous. Wounded membranes frequently 

 produce fatal inflammation. Blistering is never dangerous in chronic 

 aftections, and therefore is preferable on that score, and by general 

 action does far better. It is done within two days. Scraping the 

 membrane cannot be through its operation short of weeks. 



Buffalo, January, 1845, A. STEVENS. 



[P'rom the same."] 



FATTING SWINE. 



One of the most important duties demanding the farmer's attention 

 this month, is the fattening of his swine. The practice of some at 

 the north is, to commence one month later ; but this is very bad 

 economy, for all animals will fat much faster in mild weather than 

 in cold. Besides, there is a good deal of stuff about the farm which 

 is never so valuable as in this month ; and if gathered up and 

 cooked, is the best food which can be given for the commencement 

 of the fatting process. We would name small potatoes and roots 

 of all kinds, cabbages, turnips, pumpkins, apples, and unripened 

 and imperfect ears of corn. After these have been fed a month or 

 so, commence with a mixture of the diflerent kinds of meal, or corn 

 alone, and shove the animals as fast as posible, getting them ready 

 for the market by the middle of November to the first of January. 

 If delayed longer than this last mentioned period, however cheap 

 food may be, or high the pork may sell, fatting swine will be a 

 losing process. 



The hogs should be allowed to exercise a little in the open air, 

 and have charcoal and rottenvvood to eat twice a week, and what- 

 ever water they may wish to drink. Some contend that they will 

 not fat as fast for this, but that remains yet to be proved by careful 

 experiment At any rate, we know that the meat is much superior 

 when fatting animals have a moderate degree of exercise, and plenty 

 of fresh air and water. If closely confined they become feverish, and 

 their meat is not only flabby and tasteless, but positively unhealthy. 



Another thing. Sufficient attention is not paid to the cleanliness 

 of swine. Depend upon it, no animal pays better for keeping lum 

 clean than the hog ; and, after all, he is not half as dirty a beast as 

 he is usually set down to be. No creature enjoys clean quarters 

 better than he does ; tempt him with a good bed of fresh straw, and 



