118 THE FARMER'S 



claws or hoofs, which exist in all ruminating ani- 

 rnals, and which are very much like the issues so 

 generally known in the back part of the fore legs 

 of pigs; the stoppage of which produces disease, 

 and eventually death unless remedied. 



The hoof ail indiscriminately attacks thin and 

 fat cattle, and very considerable impressions are 

 entertained that it is contagious; therefore till the 

 contrary is proved, it is safer so to consider it. 



From a very careful comparison of cases (from 

 memory only) it appears to affect cattle who are in 

 a feverish state, from various exciting causes; as 

 over work; sudden changes from hard work to rest, 

 and higher feeding, (a practice very common with 

 farmers after working their cattle hard all winter, 

 as a preparation for their spring's work;) being 

 out in a storm; or being driven much, and kept 

 long in the mud. In cows and young cattle, it 

 seems to take either those that are brought from 

 from worse keeping to better; or the finest and best 

 cattle in the yard. But all these observations may 

 be erroneous; for the disease often appears sudden- 

 ly, without any apparent cause; affecting individu- 

 als of the same stock tied in different parts of the 

 barn, and in entirely different cases as to condition, 

 exposure, &c. &c. It however, very frequently 

 goes through a whole stock, though it does not ap- 

 pear to follow in regular succession, according to 

 proximity in the stable, or in the yoke. This may 

 arise, either from contagion or the same exciting 

 causes, operating on the whole. In short, it is a 

 disease very terrible in its effects at times, and 

 which does not appear to be understood. As very 

 few cases of perfect recovery take place in a vio- 

 lent attack, and, as in all cases the recovery is very 



