FEEDING BY HAND. 163 



of the calf, and giving it the milk slowly, and at the 

 natural temperature. In the dairy districts of Scot- 

 land, the dairy-maid puts one of her fingers into the 

 mouth of the calf, when it is fed, which serves the 

 purpose of a teat, and will have nearly the same effect 

 as the natural teat, in inducing the secretion of saliva. 

 If that, or an artificial teat of leather, be used, and the 

 milk given slowly before it is cold, the secretion of sal- 

 iva may be promoted to all the extent that can be neces- 

 sary ; besides, that secretion is not confined to the mere 

 period of eating, but, as in the human body, the saliva 

 is formed and part of it swallowed at all times. As 

 part of the saliva is sometimes seen dropping from the 

 mouths of the calves, it might be advisable to give them 

 not only an artificial teat, when fed, but to place, as is 

 frequently done, a lump of chalk before them to lick, 

 thus leading them to swallow the saliva. The chalk 

 would so far supply the want of salt, of which cattle 

 are so improperly deprived, and it would also promote 

 the formation of saliva. Indeed, calves are much dis- 

 posed to lick and suckle everything that comes within 

 their reach, which seems to be the way that nature 

 teaches them to supply their stomachs with saliva. 



" But, though suckling their dams may be most advan- 

 tageous in that respect, yet it has also some disadvan- 

 tages. The cow is always more injured than the calf is 

 benefited, by that mode of feeding. She becomes so 

 fond of the calf that she does not, for a long time after 

 yield her milk freely to the dairy-maid. The calf does 

 not when young draw off the milk completely, and 

 when it is taken off by the hand the cow withholds 

 part of her milk ; and, whenever a cow's udder is not 

 completely emptied every time she is milked, the lactic 

 secretion is thereby diminished. 



" Feeding of calves by the hand is in various other 



