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the operation would be attended witl: very miich more pain — 

 greatly increases the inflammation, while it has little or no effect 

 in relieving the obstruction caused by the swellings, as they are 

 generally seated in the rump ; and that the effect of cutting the 

 tail off close to the rump would rather be prejudicial than other- 

 wise. 



When taken at an early stage, while small and soft— only just 

 noticeable as beginning 'to swell or puff", and not larger perhaps 

 than half the size of a hen's egg — these gatherings at the butt or 

 cheek of the tail may generally be counteracted by inserting a 

 pledget of tow well saturated with a mixture in equal proportions 

 of butter of antimony and V^enice turpentine, in an incision made 

 with a good-sized pocket-knife in the swelling, right through the 

 centre, till the sound flesh be reached at the back. The mouth of 

 the incision should be downwards so that the discharge may readily 

 run off". This dressing should be renewed three ov four times, at 

 intervals of two days. To be thoroughly certain in its effect, this 

 remedy must be applied while the gathering is comparatively 

 email and soft, and while it has not reached the hard and 

 indurated stage ; and the utmost vigilance v/ill be necessary to 

 catch it at the right stage, as it frequently passes in less than 

 twenty -four hours from the one to the other. Thus, if to-day a 

 slight' swelling, or, more properly speaking, a mere puffing, is 

 noticed at either side of the butt of the tail, whereit joins the rump, 

 the chances are, if it is not treated as recommended, that by the 

 same hour next day, or perhaps even next morning, a _ hard, 

 indurated, gangrenous swelling, some three or four inches in cir- 

 cumference, will have gathered at perhaps both sides of the tail, 

 causing the animal great pain, and seriously interfering with the 

 foecal and, it may be also, with the urinal passages. 



Although "bush" cattle cannot be inspected and handled like 

 quiet, broken-in stock, they should, where practicable, be kept in 

 a paddock for a month after they are operated upon, and be 

 examined once at least every day ; and if they appear to be at all 

 swollen at the butt of the tail they should be brought in and 

 treated as suggested. Even when turned out on an open run 

 after being inoculated, cattle should be as closely watched for a 

 month afterwards as possible. By putting on a few additional 

 hands, who would go carefully through the cattle for this purpose, 

 many deaths would be prevented. 



Where the cattle are worth the trouble, they might be cured, 

 even after the swellings have reached a dangerous length,^ by 

 ripping open the skin and cutting away the gangrenous gathering, 

 when the proper dressing could be applied and the skin sewed up; 

 or, wliat is nearly as effectual and much less troublesome, these 

 gatherings might be well opened and scarified to a good depth, 

 60 as to allow the blow-flies to get into the incisions and work 



