NO. 14. 



THE FARMERS CABINET. 



21 



right post, and having a transverse bar, to 

 which the saci< is attached by cords, after 

 being passed under the animal's belly. 



Farmers' Series. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 



The Observer — ISo. 2. 



Having promised a few observations on tiic 

 healthy condition and relations of the horns of 

 cattle — including the cavities of the nose; I 

 propose, in the present number, a brief inquiry 

 into the diseases to which they are incident. 

 My views arc, in part, drawn from analogy, 

 and a knowledge of the diseases of the nasal 

 structure in man — and, in part, from actual 

 observations on diseased animals. My ob- 

 ject is, to excite others to the inquiry, more 

 than to instruct them by my own knowledge 

 of the subject. The conditions to wliich I 

 ehall, at present, call the attention of the 

 reader are — 



1. Inflammation of the nasal cavities and 

 horns. 



2. Putrid — corrupted — or rotten horn. 



3. Hollow Horn — or horn distemper. 



1. Inflammation of the mucous mem- 

 brane LINING THE CAVITIES OF THE NOSP 

 AND HORNS!. 



Inflammation of the mucous membrane of 

 the nose, is a very frequent occurrence in the 

 human subject, under the familiar name of 

 "cold," and may occur in any other animal 

 possessing a similar structure. At first the 

 secretion of the nasal surfaces is checked — 

 they become dry and hot — and an irritation 

 is felt which produces sneezing. This dry- 

 ness is soon relieved by a watery secretion, in 

 great abundance, which is replaced, after a 

 time, by a more consistent mucous discharge. 

 The intensity— the extent — and the duration 

 of the inflammation, may vary, in any assign- 

 able degree. It may continue only for a few 

 hours, or last for weeks, months, or years. It 

 may affect a part of the nose, or the whole of 

 it, and even extend to the frontal sinuses, and 

 the horns of such animals as possess them. 

 It may relieve itself by an effusion oi serum — 

 a mare labored secretion of thick adhesive 

 mucous — or even matter resembling pus. 

 Or, in a still more aggravated form, it may 

 produce idceration of the surfaces. From 

 similarity, of structure, the lining of the 

 throat, windpipe and air passages of the lung.s, 

 are, generally, more or less afl!ected in the 

 -line way. Indeed this forms the most im- 

 jiiirtant part of the disease. 



There is a contingent occurrence, which 



^ometimes takes place in catarrhal affections, 



md which ought not to escape notice. When 



lie passage from the frontal sinus to the 



iose is small, a little swelling of the mucous 



membrane, will completely shut it up. Th 

 mcreused secretion wilhm the upper cavitj 

 IS thus prevented from escaping, and accumi 

 lates in it. Severe pain ui the foreheuc 

 with a febrile excitement of the whole systcn 

 takes place. As the intlammation subsidei 

 the nasal passage opens spontaneously, an 

 relief is atibrded. The narrowness of th 

 nasal passage, renders this more conmion i 

 man, tiiun perhaps any of the brute animab 

 It may however occur in both. 



2. Corrupted horn — putrid horn- 

 rotte.n horn. 



When inflammation of the cavities of thee 

 frontis, and horns, terminates in suppuralioj 

 the matter will be discharged from tlie nose- 

 or if the passage is obstructed, will accumi 

 late in the cavities. If the horn should b 

 bored, in this state, the matter Will flo\ 

 through it — constituting what may be callec 

 corrupted horn. 



If the inflammation assumes a more violen 

 form, and extends to the bones, producin 

 bony ulceration, or caries, the discharge wl 

 be darker co'o el, rnJ highly offensive, cor 

 stituting putrid Lorn. 



When either of these conditions is accom 

 panied with an obstruction of the nasal pa; 

 sage, the matter shut up in the upper cavitie 

 will become more putrid, and offensive, i 

 proportion to the length of confinement — s 

 as to acquire an intolerable fetor, when libei 

 ated — this is rotten horn. 



It is very doubtful, whether boring ca: 

 ever be useful, in this condition of the horns,- 

 excepting, in such cases as have the nose ol 

 structed. Such obstruction can rarely b 

 known to exist. Where it is either knowr, 

 or strongly indicated ; as, when a discharg 

 from the nose suddenly stops, without ai 

 abatement of other symptoms — I would vent 

 ure to bore. But would advise, always, t 

 wait for strong necessity, as the remedy, ver; 

 often, produces the very evil it was intendei 

 to cure. It frequently happens, that a pur 

 ulent, or even putrid discharge, takes plac( 

 from the horn, or nose, several days afte 

 boring — and this is considered evidence c 

 corrupted, or putrid horn. But I would ask 

 were the horns corrupted, in those cases, a 

 the time of boring? — I would certainly an 

 swer — No. The evidence — the only ev 

 idence, would have been, a discharge of cot 

 ruption immediately after boring; but tha 

 discharge did not take place, till some day 

 after — not till time was allowed, for inflam 

 mation to be produced by the violence o 

 boring, and the too free admission of air int( 

 the cavities. It is reasonable to conclude 

 then, that the corruption of the horn was th( 

 effect of— and produced by — injudicious bor 

 ing. Some experienced farmers and grazier 



