148 



NEW ENGLAND FAllMER. 



March 



less, and give him dry hay, he informs me of it in a 

 few days by the peculiar cough, I have mentioned ; 

 but sometimes, for six months together, no indica- 

 tion of disease is visible, and he would pass for a 

 sound horse with the most knowing in such matters. 

 There is no doubt that clover hay, probably because 

 of its dust, often induces the heaves. Stable keep- 

 ers with us, refuse it altogether, for this reason. 



Many suppose that the wind of the horse is affec- 

 ted by the heaves, so that fast dri\'ing at any time 

 will, as we express it, put him out of breath. With 

 my horse, it is not so. 



When the "General" was at the worst, rapid driv- 

 ing, when just from the stable, would increase his 

 difhculty, but a mile or two of moderate exercise 

 would dissipate the symptoms entirely. We have, 

 occasionally, what are called wind-broken horses, 

 which are nearly worthless for want of wind. They 

 can never be driven rapidly without great distress, 

 and frequently give out entirely by a few miles' 

 driving. This is thought to be a different disease. 

 The "General's" case is, I suppose, a fair example 

 of the heaves. 



I have no doubt that regular feeding with 

 chopped and wet fodder, and exclusion of dust from 

 hay fed to other animals in the same stable, would 

 render many horses now deemed almost worthless, 

 and which manifestly endure great suft'ering, equal- 

 ly valuable for most purposes, with those that are 

 sound. 



And now, my dear sir, if you will call on me 

 when the snow has gone, and the birds begin to 

 sing, I will show you the "General," fat and sleek. 

 I shall be glad, also, to show the country gentlemen 

 of our neighborhood, om whom they already know 

 by his works, as a man who has done much to 

 make the earth fruitful and beautiful, and to en- 

 hance the enjojmeuts of liural Life. 



Veterinary Institute, which gives a brief history of the 

 horse, his uses, treatment and importance, and also 

 of the abuses which prevail, and the necessity of 

 placing the veterinary medicine of our country up- 

 on the basis which it merits. The paper is a capi- 

 tal one, and ought to be read by all who have the 

 charge of horses. There is also an Essay on Diet, 

 a paper on Chronic Cough, one on the present 

 jjrevalent disease among horses, one on ill-using 

 horses, which we intend to copy, and several top- 

 ics are discussed, all of an interesting and practical 

 character. The work ought to be well sustained. 



The number for February has a most spirited en- 

 graving of the horse, "Wild Air," owned by J. S. 

 Durgin, of Fishersville, N. H., the conclusion of 

 the article on diet, articles on horse influenza, 

 black leg in cattle, &c. 



A SNAKE COMBAT. 



The above account of "How I bought a Horse 

 that had the Heaves, and how I treated that Dis- 

 ease," was furnished some time since for the col- 

 umns of the Country Gentleman, by Henry F. 

 French, Esq., of Exeter, N. H. The" spirited style 

 in which it is narrated will give double effect to the 

 lesson it teaches. Though extensively copied at 

 the time of its publication, we think it well worthy 

 of a wider circulation, as well as a convenient form 

 for frequent reading. — Illustrated Jlnnual Register 

 qf Rural Affairs. 



Remarks. — We have often had an agreeable 

 ride at the expense of "The General's" strength, and 

 have seen him at the plow, and in all sorts of har- 

 ness, and everywhere conducting himself as a very 

 sensible and powerful animal. Proper treatment 

 in feeding, working and stabhng, will accomplish 

 more than all the nostrums of the shops, as will be 

 seen in this case. At the age of fifteen, the Gen- 

 eral is still sound as he was when "one of the Fan- 

 cy" stept out of Camerons'- Hotel and accosted our 

 Associate with, "Well, friend, do you want to buy 

 such a horse as that ?" 



Combats between the rattle and black snakes are 

 certain if they meet, and the black snake is, ^vith 

 rare exceptions, the conqueror. Upon seeing each 

 other, those animals instantly assume their respect- 

 ive attitudes of defiance, and display the great dif- 

 ference in their organization. The rattlesnake coils 

 itself up, ready for attack or defence ; the black 

 snake, being a constrictor, moves about from side 

 to side, and is in constant activity — naturally ex- 

 citing each other's passions. The rattlesnake final- 

 ly settles down into a glomng exhibition of animos- 

 ity, its fangs exposed, its rattles in constant agita- 

 tion. The black snake, seemingly conscious that 

 the moment of strife has come, now commences 

 circling round its enemy, absolutely moving so 

 swiftly that it seems but a gleam of dull light ; the 

 rattlesnake attempts to follow the movement, but 

 soon becomes confused, and drops its head in de- 

 spair ; then it is that the black snake darts upon 

 the back of its deadly foe, seizes it between its teeth, 

 and springing upward, envelopes the rattlesnake in 

 its folds. The struggle though not long, is pain- 

 ful; the combatants roll over in the dust, and get 

 entangled in the bushes ; but ever)' moment the 

 black snake is tightening its hold, until the rat- 

 tlesnake gasps for breath, becomes helpless, and 

 dies. For a while the black snake still retains its 

 grasp ; you can perceive its muscles working with 

 constant energy ; but finally it cautiously uncoils it- 

 self, and quietly betakes to the water, where recov- 

 ering its energy, it dashes about a moment as if in 

 exultation, and disappears from the scene. 



The Veterinary Journal. — The number of this 

 useful work for January contains a lecture by D. D. 

 Slade, M. D., delivered at the opening of the Boston 



Fur the New England Farmer. 



MEASURE OF MILK. 



Mr. Editor : — We are accustomed to look to 

 those in authority for guidance in the ways of life. 

 I hear much said about the measure of milk. My 

 millvman has lately altered his measure from beer 

 measure to wine measure, and his price from seven 

 to six cents per quart. I wish you or some of your 

 statistical correspondents, would inform which gains 

 by this change ? * 



Feb., 1856. 



