316 avery's own farrier. 



to the late and wet spring of 1858, and the frequent show- 

 ers and hot sun that intervened, the oat crop was sown late, 

 consequently but a light crop was obtained, the straw of 

 which was almost invariably struck more or less with 

 the rust. This rust, or ergot, contains poison, and by 

 constantly feeding the straw, its effects are like a slow 

 poison, taking in more of it with their food than can 

 work itself out through the pores of the skin. It is an 

 ergot of the oat, the same as that of rye, or the grasses 

 which causes hoof ail among cattle. I have known quite 

 a number of horses suffering from this cause, and had 

 several under my immediate observation and care the 

 past winter ( 1859). Symptoms: Refuses to eat, drinks 

 daintily, having languid feeling with cold ears and feet; 

 pulse slow and weak; much inclined to lie down, rising, 

 pawing, and looking around to the sides occasionally, 

 but only when the paroxysms come on, caused by the 

 contraction, or spasms of the muscular coatings of the 

 stomach and intestines, flanks tucked up, &,c. Cure : First 

 remove the cause by a change of food, and the effect 

 ceases; nature will again rally without a foe. Secondly, 

 a little minf water and powdered ginger, will be very 

 beneficial in restoring tone and action to the system. 



No. 97. — The Study of Nature. 



I am not an Agassiz, nor a Humboldt; but I fully con- 

 cur with the former in the sentiment that the study of 

 the phenomena of nature is among the most potent means 

 of developing the human faculties. As an evidence of 

 this look at the latter, who is the very embodiment of the 

 most extensive human knowledge in our days; "and 



