290 WARBLES. LOSS OF CUD. 



applied with a sponge. Others hang up tobacco-leaves 

 over the stalls. This may do to keep them away ; but, 

 after the animal is covered with them, they are not so 

 easily scared. 



WARBLES. The gad-fly is very troublesome to cattle 

 towards the end of summer. The fly alights on the back 

 of the cow, punctures the skin, and lays her eggs under 

 it. A tumor is now formed, varying in size, which soon 

 bursts and leaves a small hole for the grub already 

 hatched to breathe through. Here the insect feeds on 

 its surroundings, and grows up to considerable size. 

 All this time the animal is probably suffering more or 

 less pain, and often tries to lick or rub the part affected, 

 if possible. Farmers often press them out with the fin- 

 ger and thumb. The best way is to puncture the skin 

 with a common pen-knife, and then press out the 

 grub. They injure the hide more than most people are 

 aware of. 



Loss OF CUD is a consequence of indigestion, and is 

 often brought on by eating too greedily of food which 

 the cow is not used to. Loss of cud and loss of appetite 

 are synonymous. Gentle purgatives may be given, 

 with such as salts, ginger, and sulphur. But when a cow 

 is surfeited, as already said, I should prefer to withhold 

 food entirely, or for the most part, till the system can 

 regulate itself. 



DISEASES OF CALVES. The colostrum, or first milk of 

 the cow after calving, contains medicinal qualities pecu- 

 liarly adapted to cleanse the young calf, and free its 

 bowels from the matter always existing in them at birth. 

 This should, therefore, never be denied it. Bleeding 

 at the navel, with which calves are sometimes seriously 

 troubled, may generally and safely be stopped by tying 

 a string around the cord which hangs suspended 

 from it. 



