292 COSTIVENESS. HOOVE. CANKER. 



a few days old, that have not been judiciously managed, 

 It may be brought on by putting a calf to a cow whose 

 milk is too old, or from feeding a calf from the milk of 

 several cows mixed. It results from too heavy a mass 

 of coagulated milk in the fourth stomach, which becomes 

 very much swollen with hard curd. It is difficult to 

 remedy. The best way is to pour down some Epsom 

 salts, two ounces, dissolved in two quarts of warm 

 water, by means of a horn or bottle, and follow this by 

 half the dose every six hours. 



Constipation sometimes appears in calves from two 

 to four months old, when their food is too suddenly 

 changed. The bowels must be opened and the hardened 

 mass in the stomach softened very soon, or it will lead 

 to fatal consequences. 



Farmers are generally very careless about observing 

 these things till it is too late. As already said, preven- 

 tion is cheaper than cure ; but, if the complaint once 

 appears, no time should be lost to administer a purge 

 of salts in proportion to the size of the animal or the 

 severity of the attack. Many a valuable animal will be 

 saved by it. 



The HOOVE often appears among calves after being 

 turned out to pasture. The young animal coughs vio- 

 lently, and appears in pain. It should be removed at 

 once to a dry place, and physicked. If taken in season, 

 it is easily cured. If neglected, it will often prove fatal. 

 This complaint assumes the form of an epidemic at times, 

 and becomes very prevalent and troublesome. 



Calves sometimes suffer from CANKER IN THE MOUTH, 

 especially at the time of teething. The gums swell, 

 and fever sets in. Common alum or borax, dissolved in 

 water, may be applied, and a mild purgative admin- 

 istered, in the shape of one or two ounce doses of 

 Epsom salts. 



