T6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



them; copperas water will do it also. The fish oil seems to 

 stop the connection with the atmosphere, so that they dry up. 



Warts- should not be confounded with " the mange." That 

 sometimes kills animals. It can he cured with copperas water and 

 sulphur. The mange is probably caused by a small insect. The 

 cattle itch, and are very uneasy. Sometimes animals die with it. 



We have a disease called " the black leg," or murrain among 

 us, which is fatal unless it is treated early. I wish to know the 

 opinion of gentlemen as to the cause. Young cattle, especially 

 when very thrifty, arc liable to be attacked with it in the fall. 

 Some people lose a great many of their yearlings. They, are 

 generally taken in one fore-leg first, and by rubbing the hand 

 upon the skin a crackling can be heard, and when the animal 

 dies, the flesh is black and putrid. The animal will swell about 

 the fore shoulders before it dies. I shall like to know the cause 

 and the preventative. 



Mr. Adams, of Fitchburg. — We sometimes call " the mange " 

 " the barn itch." An application of sulphur and lard is a good 

 remedy ; a pretty sure cure I think. 



Mr. Gates. — My grandfather used as a remedy for " the barn 

 itch," bacon lard. I have tried it, when one application has 

 removed the whole. Whether it is the kreosote derived from 

 the smoking of the bacon that makes it better, or not, I cannot 

 say. If it is not removed it will go over the whole animal, as a 

 general thing. 



Mr. Smith, of Middlefield. — I have not had much trouble 

 with diseases of cattle. I have rarely lost any. The " black 

 leg " is in our section some. I have known people who dared 

 not to feed their calves high for fear of that disease. 



I have sometimes had some experience with swelled or caked 

 bag. For that I generally milk all I can from the cow, and then 

 let the calf go to work. If he is hungry he will bunt and get 

 the milk out. I think the best way is to get all the milk out. 

 If it is not got out the inflammation increases. I never have had 

 a case fail, for I always begin with it early. 



For garget, or bloody milk, I use saltpetre. I have also used 

 garget-root, or poke-root as it is called. But in very bad cases 

 I do not know as there is any cure. I give about a table-spoon 

 fall of saltpetre in a potato. I have little trouble in getting 

 them to swallow it in that way. 



