NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



395 



a fci-tilizer. In an experiment, several years ago, by 

 Mr. Aldcn, of East Bridgewatcr, the results were 

 something more favorable ; but there was not enough 

 efficacy manifested in that instance to justify any 

 thing like a general use of salt as a manure. From 

 observation wc think it highly beneficial, and a very 

 enduring fertilizer on some soils, and on some that 

 it produces no visible effect. Trials on a small scale 

 will best serve to show where it can be used with 

 profit. In the orchard and nursery, it can always be 

 used with benefit, as a preventive of insects, care 

 being taken not to have it come in contact vi'ith ten- 

 der trees, as it would kill them much quicker than 

 insects. In the culture of plants of marine origin, 

 salt may be pretty freely used, and with great bene- 

 fit. The applicant for the premium appears to have 

 complied with all the conditions of the offer, and 

 therefore ought to receive it, though little or no 

 benefit accrue to the public. To Mi'. CoUamore is 



awarded ten dollars. 



— ■ — ♦ 



INFLUENZA IN HORSES. 



Eds, Cultivator : The disease I am about to con- 

 sider under the above appellation, is better knowm 

 among horsemen by that of distemper. From the 

 real nature and proper treatment of this affection not 

 being properly understood, the number of horses 

 which annually fall a sacrifice to its influence is 

 almost beyond conception. 



The character of this, like many other diseases, 

 varies according to the season of the year, as well as 

 the state and condition in which the animal is placed 

 at the time of being attacked. It most frequently 

 occurs when the weather is changeable, particularly 

 in the spring and autumn months ; and from being 

 prevalent in some seasons more than in others, it 

 has in consequence been considered to be a conta- 

 gious disease ; but the most probable cause appears 

 to mc to be sudden atmospheric changes, as from 

 dry to wet, and from hot to cold. In its simplest or 

 least complicated forms, it bears a resemblance to 

 common cold, (catarrh ;) the mucous membrane of 

 the " air passages " is its primary aird principal seat, 

 generally commencing in the chaml)crs of the nose, 

 and u])per part of the throat, extending in some in- 

 stances down the windpipe, and its ramifications, the 

 bronchial tubes ; or it may go still farther, and ulti- 

 mately involve the whole substance of the lungs. 



In some subjects, its attack is very slight. The 

 horse is first observed to be languid and dull ; he 

 refuses part or the whole of liis feed of grain — occa- 

 sionally coughs ; he is incapable of undergoing any 

 considerable exertion ; signs of soreness of his throat 

 are soon observed ; the food cannot be swallowed as 

 usual ; the slightest compression of the throat makes 

 the animal fiinch, and sets him coughing ; the mouth 

 is dry, and the membranes of the eye and nose are 

 somewhat unusually red. In some severe cases, the 

 soreness of the throat causes the animal to carry his 

 neck stitt', with his nose projected ; the food and 

 water, when attempted to be swallowed, is forced 

 back again through the nostrils ; the glands about 

 the throat arc more or less swollen ; the breathing 

 is short, diiKeult, and painful, and attended with a 

 peculiar hoarse sound in the throat. In other in- 

 stances, the membrane lining the lungs (bronchiae) 

 receives the principal brunt of the disease ; the horse 

 now stands in his stall dull and listless, in one par- 

 ticular place ; the breathing is short and quick, (but 

 not deeply drawn;) the pulse is accelerated and 

 weak ; skin and legs rather warm than cold ; mem- 

 brane of the eye exhibits rather a yellowish-red cast ; 

 the discharge from the nose is also of a bilious hue. 



It is not my intention in this article to attempt a 

 description of all the characters that this disease oc- 

 casionally assumes, but brieily to notice its most 

 prominent features. 



In determining the treatment of " influenza," re- 

 gard must be paid to the seat and extent of the 

 derangement constituting it, always bearing in mind 

 that the tendency and certain issue of this disease is 

 debility. Hence, in the generality of cases, the most 

 cautious treatment is necessary ; for if active nieas- 

 suros are resorted to, such as large and repeated 

 blood-letting, rowels, strong physic, &c., the horse 

 becomes debilitated, his extremities (legs) enlarged 

 and dropsical, and he either dies of " yellow-water," 

 (dropsy,) or remains for a long time in a low and 

 weak state. 



At the commencement of the disease, it is neces- 

 sary to keep the animal in a large stall, without ex- 

 ercise ; and in the summer let the temperature be 

 kept as cool as possible, cautiously avoiding a direct 

 current of air. The diet may consist of scalded bran 

 and hay, with tepid water, in which a few drachms 

 of nitrate of potash (nitre) are dissolved, always within 

 his reach ; or it may be sweetened with honey or 

 molasses, providing the patient likes it. The horse 

 should be well wisped or brushed, and clothed 

 warmly, particularly when he feels cold and .shivers. 

 If the bowels are constipated, two ounces of cream 

 of tartar may be given in the drink every morning ; 

 and should the excretions appear pent up, the hand, 

 oiled, is to be introduced, and the rectum emptied, 

 and afterwards a clyster given, composed of gruel, 

 linseed-tea, or a decoction of slippery ehn. 



When horses are of great value, I have suspended 

 under their throat bags containing bran and linseed 

 meal poultices, and reiiewed them every two hours, 

 keeping the animal at the same time comfortably 

 clothed. Or the throat may be well fomented with 

 Avater as hot as a man can bear his hand immersed 

 in, and steaming his nose with the vapor arising 

 from it ; after which the glands about the upper part 

 of the windpipe should be well rubbed with the fol- 

 lowing liniment : alcohol one pint, camphor one 

 ounce, soft soap four ounces, spirit of hartshorn, 

 (water of ammonia,) two ounces. Simple means, 

 such as tliese, will, in the generality of cases, be fol- 

 lowed by the happiest result — a complete restoration 

 to health. ARTHUR S. COPEMAN, Utica. 



— Albany Cultivator. 



NEW DISCOVERY IN AGRICULTURE. 



An extraordinary fact was mentioned the other 

 day at the sitting of the Academy of Sciences. One 

 of the members stated that the Agricultural Society 

 of Brest had, upon the proposition of a member of 

 the committee, sown some wheat upon land without 

 any preparation of ploughing or digging, and in one 

 of the worst soils possible, and, after having merely 

 walked over the ground to press the grain on the 

 surface, had it covered witlr fresh straw to the thick- 

 ness of two inches. The product was, it is asserted, 

 more abundant and much superior in quality to 

 wheat raised from the same seed in the ordinary 

 way. Some ears of wheat, the seed of which had 

 been placed ujjon window glass covered with straw, 

 were also exhibited. 



Fleetness of the Reindeer. — In consequence 

 of the Norwegians making a sudden and unexpected 

 irruption into the Swedish territories, an officer was 

 despatched with a sledge and reindeer to Stockholm, 

 to convey the intelligence ; which he did with such 

 speed that he performed 124 Swedish miles (about 

 800 English) in 48 hours ; but his faithful animal 

 dropped down lifeless on the Biddarhustorget, just 

 after his arrival in the capital. The bearer of the 

 news, as it is said, was in consequence ennobled, and 

 assumed the name of Rhens-jurna, (Reindeer Star.) 

 — Brooks's Winter in Lapland. 



