DISEASE AMONG SWINE AND OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 147 



(leuly, paAvs svitli the fore feot, and so on tintil oxLanshul. Reined ics are numerous, 

 but i have found only one -wbieh never failed. It is as follows : Mix six ounces of 

 epsoni salts with a pint of a stron<f decoction of worm-seed herb {('heiiopodii ^fcxkani), 

 say eifjlit ounces of the weed to one quart of water, boiled down to a pint ; then mix 

 with this solution about four ounces of oil of turpentine; put in a quart bottle, and 

 drench the horse well -with it. At the ex[)irati()n of an hour give the animal a half 

 pint of linseed-oil, which will soon cause the expulsion of the worms or bots. 



The symptoms of distemper are : Loss of appetite, swelling of the glands of the jaw 

 and under the belly, sliglit fever, cough, and discharge from the nostrils. If these 

 symptoms do not abate, emaciation, general dehility, and death soon ensues. The fol- 

 lowing remedy is used : One-half ounce hlack sulphate of antimony, one ounce muriate 

 ammonia, three-fourths of an ounce of saltpeter, four ounces powdered gentian-root, 

 .and two and one-half ounces of powdered /ft'««/n gnveum seed, mixed, divided into 

 eight doses, and given three times a day. The animal must he kept in a dry, warm 

 sta])le where no other horses can come in contact with him. The disease generally 

 yields within from five to seven days. 



The only disease which aliects cattle to any considerable extent in Western Texas is 

 " hollow-horn, or " horn-distemper." The cause of this disease is a "hollow stomach " 

 and an insufficient suj)ply of wholesome food. The symptoms are gradual decay of 

 the pit of the horn, loss of appetite, sluggishness, swelling of the eyes and head, cold 

 horns, urine bloody, costiveness, and swollen udder. The remedy is one-fourth pound 

 each of powdered ginger and gentian-root, one ounce of saltpeter, and two ounces of 

 ammonia, nuxed well, and a tablespooufnl given three times a day in food. If the 

 disease is of long standing, remove the purulent matter, either by sawing off the ends 

 of the horns or by boring them with a large gimlet. The hollow should be kept well 

 cleaned by the injection of a solution of carbolic acid, soft-soap, and water ; say one 

 ounce of carbolic acid, four ounces of soap, and one quart of water. In the early 

 stages the disease may be cured by a generous feeding of corn-meal and good grass, 

 and the application of the above solution to the head and neck. 



The "wolves" is a disease caused by a yellow, grayish-looking fly, of a species not 

 known to me. It deposits its eggs under the skin above the hoof of the animal. In 

 a few days it hatches, and the mite migrates all over the body, and finally lodges itself 

 under the skiu, where it grows and undergoes its transformation as a larva. It then 

 bores through the skin, emerging as a perfect "heel-fly." These flies appear early in 

 the spring, and cause the death of thousands of cattle. No remedy is known. 



There is no Texas or Spanish fever among cattle in Western Texas. Ticks are plen- 

 tiful, but they do no harm to native stock. 



Mr. M. GiLLis, CastrovillGj JMedina County, Texas, says: 



A disease is prevailing at this time among horses called " loin-distemper," which is 

 very fatal. The first symptoms are observed in the hind limbs. The loins seem weak, 

 and in a few days the animal is unable to stand, its hind legs failing to support it. By 

 many the disease is thought to be contagious, while others regard it as an aftection of 

 the kidneys. No remedy has been discovered. Colts, particularly those that come in 

 late in the spasou, are attacked by ticks in such numbers that if they do not directly 

 kill the animal they cause wounds which draw the blow-flies, which eat away the flesh 

 and soon cause death. As a remedj- for ticks, we apply coal-oil, and for maggots 

 chrysalic ointment. 



Among sheep there are several diseases, but scab causes more trouble and loss than 

 all other diseases combined. Eighty per cent, of the flocks are afflicted with this 

 disease. Tobacco is the common remedy, and if properly used will invariably prove 

 beneficial. Of good tobacco twenty-five pounds to one hundred gallons of water, 

 with a small quantity of lye or sal soda, will make a solution that will cure the dis- 

 ease if applied at intervals of ten days. 



A disease known as "lumbers," which is a collection of worms in the stomach, some 

 years kills almost all the lambs when but a few mouths old. A disease calleil " scours," 

 a looseness and running off at the bowels, also proves quite fatal. 



Mr. W. W. Farnsworth, TVaterville, Lucas County, Ohio, says : 



There is some complaint of hog-cholera in our vicinity, but I have not been troubled 

 with it. We keep our hogs in clover in the summer aud in clean covered pens in win- 

 ter, and feed with corn-meal. We give pure water to drink. We select the best swine 

 to breed from, and do not breed too young, as it weakens the constitution. 



]\rr. Will C. Eanney, Capo Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, ^Iis« 

 souri, says : 



While I have no pretensions to a scientific knowledge of diseases of farm-animals or 

 their treatment, it has been my misfortune fhiriug tlie last, twenty years to witnesfi 



