450 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



on the liiain." If this disease is common in any 

 part of the country, we shall be very much ob- 

 liged for any information as to its cause and cure. 

 East Jay, Me., Aug. 2G, 1868. Jack. 



Reji.vrks.— All parts of the animal are subject 

 to disease, — the brain, heart, and other "vital 

 parts," as well as the bones, flesh and skin. The 

 veterinary books recognize several distinct diseases 

 of the Jirain. One is called entozoic. This is 

 caused by a minute animal, similar to worms in 

 the intestines, eye, &e. Dr. Dadd says those which 

 infest the brain consist of a parent sac, or mem- 

 branous tunic, from which, externally, germination 

 takes place. The symptoms of disease produced 

 by these parasites is described as follows in his 

 Diseases of Animals: — 



In their early state, they take up but little room, 

 and do not occasion any very marked symptoms ; 

 yet, if the animal could only speak, we might be 

 informed that it was the subject of headache. 

 As the parasite or parasites increase in size, they 

 produce pressure on the brain, which makes the 

 animal appear giddy, confused, nervous, and desir- 

 ous of separating itself from the herd ; and it is in 

 consequence of these peculiar symptoms making 

 their appearance, when no other form of disease is 

 present, that the term sturdy is applied, which is 

 simply used to denote the jpresence of cerebral 

 parasites. 



When once these pat^sites have fairly taken up 

 their abode in the cranial cavity of an ox, I fear 

 there is very little help. I recommend prevention 

 rather than attempts at cure. The preventive rem- 

 edies are as follows: Salt, sulphur and charcoal,' 

 equal parts. This is a specific for all parasites. 

 About a table-spoonful of the mixture, given occa- 

 sionally in the food, will prevent the germination 

 of many forms of parasites. 



In relation to another form of disease called in- 

 flammation of the brain, the Dr. says : — 



The affection is generally sudden in its attack, 

 and is often accompanied by symptoms of phrensy, 

 and the animal sometimes becomes frantic, and de- 

 cidedly mischievous ; soon however, alterations in 

 the structure of the parts take place, as softening, 

 effusion, etc., and then the animal dies. 



In regard to the treatment, I must confess that 

 it is much easier to write about it than accomplish 

 it. In coses when delirious fits occur, accompanied 

 by convulsions, which make it dangerous to ap- 

 proach the animal, I have no remedies to offer; 

 the case is beyond the reach of art. I may, how- 

 ever, add, that the terminations of this disease are 

 different. They depend on the intensity of the 

 malady, and the structural sufceptibility. 



The disease is generally treated with a view of 

 counteracting inflammation : cold water to the 

 bead, active cathartics, and counter irritation on 

 the region of the spine. The causes of a disease 

 of this character are often obscure, yet I have 

 known it to occur as the effect of prior disorder in 

 some other part of the body. I examined the car- 

 case of an ox, a short time ago, that died of what 



the owner termed "mad staggers." I found the 

 brain highly congested, and several adhesions be- 

 tween it and its membranes ; there were also large 

 patches, intensely red, on the lining membrane of 

 the third and fourth apartments of the stomach. 

 I was informed by the owner that the animal died 

 twenty-four hours from the time of its first attack. 

 The disease probably originated on the digestive 

 surfaces, in consequence of the irritating nature of 

 the food — mouldy hay and tough cornstalks, with 

 a sprinkling of damaged meal and brewer's grains. 



The symptoms of symptomatic disease of the 

 brain are as follows : dullness, loss of appetite, 

 staring of the coat ; and, if the animal be a milch 

 cow, diminution in the quantity of milk is observed ; 

 the extremities are cold, and the animal grates its 

 teeth. The respiration is at first tranquil, and the 

 pulse slow but full. The patient will frequently 

 be seized with a kind of epileptic fit, which lasts • 

 but for a few minutes, during which time some of 

 them will exhibit the most violent symptoms, such 

 as bellowing hideously, pawing the earth, and 

 running at anything within their reach ; they will 

 also break out into profuse perspiration, and press 

 their heads forcibly against the wall, even to such 

 an extent as to break off their horns. Many are 

 seized with violent tremblings and't\v'itchings, and 

 towards the latter period of the 'disease, the res- 

 piration becomes extremely laborious, the jaws are 

 firmly closed, convulsions succeed each other rap- 

 idly, and death shortly closes the scene. 



Treatment. — In the early stages of this affection, 

 the animal should be drenched with the following : 



Linseed Oil 4 ounces. 



Lime Water 4 ounces. 



Powdered Ginger 4 drachms. Mix. 



The rectum is to be emptied, by means of clys- 

 ters composed of salt and warm water, and the 

 whole length of the spine should be rubbed twice 

 daily with a portion of the following : 



Linseed Oil 1 pint. 



Spirits of Hartshorn 2 ounces. Mix, 



Should the animal improve, a few doses of the 

 following will complete the cure : 



Powdered Goldenseal 2 ounces. 



Carbonate of Soda 1 ounce. Mix. 



Divide the mass into six parts, and give one 

 night and morning, in a pint of cold water. 



From the foregoing, our correspondent will see 

 that his description of the symptoms in the case of 

 his neighbor's cow, and of the examination after 

 death, are hardly sufficient to enable any one to 

 decide upon the specific character of the disease 

 which resulted in the apparently sudden death of 

 the animal. 



THE JAPANESE WHEAT, A MILLET. 



I send you a stalk of (so called) "Jfipanese 

 Wheat," from seed received from Mr. J. D. Rice. 



The seed was sown about the first of June, and 

 when I wrote you. June 27, I hadt-ccn no higns of 

 vegetation. July 10 it began to come up, and I 

 have a luxurious growth, as per sample, which 1 

 enclose. Now, what is it ? 



The yield of seed is abundant, as you can see, 



