NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



"iihli-hcid every Saturday, by THOMAS W. SHF.PAIU), Rogers' Building:, Congress Street, Doston ; at $'3.5(1 per ann. in advance, or J;3,00 at die close ol' llu yeai • 



Vol. I. 



BOSTON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 182.3. 



No. 2.3. 



DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



SELECTED AND COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORS, 

 BY THE EDITOR. 



Catarrh, or Cold ; Epidemical Cold ; Distemper. 

 Colds are very common, particularly in 'vet ; 

 or cold weather ; and though they are often 

 thou2;ht of too little importance to require par- 

 ticitlar attention, yet, by neglectina: them, and 

 suflering- the animal to continue exposed to the 

 weather, the most serious consequences may 

 ensue. From such neglect we often find that 

 the animal decays in tlesh and strength, becomes 

 hide bound, and has a rough staring coat ; at 

 length tubercles Ibrm in the lungs, the mesen- 

 teric glantls become enlarged, obstructing the 

 passage by which nutriment is conveyed to the 

 blood : this is succeeded by atrophy, consump- 

 tion and death. It is highly important, there- 

 fore, to attend to this disorder as soon as it is 

 discovered ; and it is asserted that more good 

 may be done by nursing, placing the animal in 

 a warm situation, giving him warm, nourishing 

 fluids, such as gruel, infusions of malt, &,c. than 

 from any medical prescriptions. 



Colds are, at some seasons, so prevalent, as 

 to be considered epidemic and infectious. On 

 »uch occasions they generally occur with great 

 violence, and are accompanied by fever, and, 

 joon after the attack, by considerable debility. 



On the first attack, the animal appears dull 

 md languid ; the eyes are watery, and, some- 

 imes, partially closed ; the appetite is dimin- 

 '.shed ; and, most commonly, it is attended with 

 ;ough. Swellings under or below the cars, 

 lifliculty in swallowing, and a discbarge from 

 he nostrils are not unusual symptoms of it(o' 

 :omplaint. When catarrh prevails to this de- 

 Tee, it is generally named injluenza, or distem- 

 ler, and has been thought contagious ; but this 

 jpinion has not been proved to be true. 



With respect to the treatment of this disease 

 Dr. White observes that the hot stimulating 

 drenches, commonly recommended, are decid- 

 edly improper. Bleeding at the commencement 

 of colds is generally proper; the only circum- 

 stance which indicates its impropriety, is con- 

 siderable weakness and low condition. The 

 quantity of blood taken should seldom exceed 

 two quarts. If the animal is costive, give a 

 laxative drink ; but if he purges or scours, give 

 the following powder in gruel : 



Powdered ginger - 3 dr. 



Antimonial powder - 2 dr. 



Camphor - • H *^''- 



Tincture of opium - | oz. 



To be repeated after eight or ten hours, should 

 it be necessary. If there be any difficulty in 

 swallowing, and particularly if it be considera- 

 ble, the following liniment should be rubbed 

 about the throat : 

 Take of oil of turpentine and any common 



oil, of each - - - 1 oz. 



liquid ammonia, commonly called spirit of 



s^l ammoniac - - 4 oz. 



Mix. 



In common colds, however, says Dr. White, 

 " I am inclined to believe that if the animal 



were placed in a comt'ortable situation, and well 

 attended to, medicine would be unnecessary. 

 Even bleeding, in common slight colds, is sel- 

 dom required ; but should the animal, by a 

 change of situation, become hot and fevcrisli, 

 should the eyes look red and the tlanks move 

 quickly, he should be bled freely ; and if in any 

 degree costive, the laxative [hereafter mention- 

 ed] should be given. AVhen there are no fever- 

 ish symptoms present the laxative should be 

 mixed with some cordial medicine, such as an 

 ounce of caraway seeds, and 3 or 4 drachms of 

 ginger. 



" When the influenza, or distemper, has not 

 been attended to, or has been improperly treat- 

 ed at an early period, the animal becomes ex- 

 tremely weak, and every means must be em- 

 ployed to recruit his strength. On such occa- 

 sions a tonic [such as the first mentioned pre- 

 scription] may be given twice or three times a 

 day, which in conjunction with a warm nour- 

 ishing diet, and careful attendance, m.ny ulti- 

 mately eflect a recover}-. 



If the animal should become costive, a mild 

 laxative will be proper; about half a dose will 

 be sufficient. If grass can be conveniently pro- 

 cured, when the animal is kept under cover a 

 moderate quantity will be useful. In favorable 

 weather, the field is the best place ; but a shel- 

 tered and warm situation should be chosen. 



LAXATIVE. 



Sulphate of soda (glaubcr's salt) 1 lb. 

 Gruel - - - 1 qt. 



Powdered caraway seeds 1 oz. 



Mix, for one dose. 



Whenever the dise.ise appears to be epidem- 

 ic, prevcniive njeans should be adopted, which 

 is more particularly necessary when rain and 

 cold winds prevail. Catarrh or cold is often an 

 insidious com])laint, and, if neglected, may pro- 

 duce very serious consequences. 



Whenever caraway or any of the aromatic 

 seeds are employed, they should not be pur- 

 chased in powder, as they do not keep well in 

 this form. 



Mr. Lawrence observes that " The influenza 

 or epidemic cold arises from frequent changes 

 of the air, and the prevalence of north-east and 

 easterly winds. As a great number, whether of 

 men or animals, may be seized with this species 

 of catarrh, at the same time and tor the same 

 cause, it has been supposed contagious, which 

 indeed, may probably be the case in its invet- 

 erate and ])utrid state. This disorder is most 

 prevalent in the spring, which succeeds a mild 

 winter, when particular care should be taken 

 that cattle are not exposed to currents of air 

 from the north-east. I have known a whole 

 fold-yard of oxen, horses and cows, dangerously 

 affected in one night." 



Mr. Lawrence advises "if the animal shivers 

 wi'.h cold, and has cold breath, give a quart of 

 warm ale.* in which is infused a table spoonful 

 of grated ginger, two of spirit of hartshorn, and 

 one of laudanum, repeating it in six hours, if 

 the chilly symptoms continue, allowing warm 

 water and a deep bed of straw. If feverish heat 



* Ceer or warm watej: would answer probably as well 



comes on, give nitre in warm water; when 

 fever bocotncs predominant, bleed two quarts, 

 unless the animal be a milch-cow, which never 

 ought, to be'Viled but in extreme nece.ssity, and 

 one ounce of cream of tartar, in three pints of 

 warm grueli_ sweetened witli honey or treacle, 

 [molasses.] On recovery of tlie beast, accus- 

 tom it to the air by degrees, and notwithstand- 

 ing having been nursed in the house, it will 

 again become equally hardy ns betbre." 



Peripneiunoi"j, Plcurisi/, or Injlammation of the 



Lungs. 



This disease most commonly occurs to work- 

 ing cattle from over exertion, or from being 

 suffered to drink largely of cold water, immedi- 

 ately after working hard, and when in a stale 

 of perspiration. Its .symptoms are shivering; 

 loss of ajipetite ; an appearance of anxiety or 

 depression; an increased motion of the flanks, 

 or quickness of breathing; cough ; opening the 

 mouth ; a discharge from the mouth and nose of 

 a glutinous nature ; the inside of the nose rod ; 

 eyes dull; pulse hard; mouth harsh and dry ; 

 skin stiff; cold extremities ; body full as if 

 swelled with herbage ; holds its head low and 

 moves with dift'iculty ; costive ; on lifting the 

 upper eye lid its under surface will be Ibund 

 unusually red, sometimes approaching to orange. 

 If the disease happens to a milch cow, she soon 

 looses her milk ; and the cars, legs and horns 

 are generally cold. 



Dr. White says, " early breeding is the gran<l 

 specific in this complaint ; but it must not bo 

 done sparingly. A cow or ox in tolerable con- 

 dition, may lose from four to six quarts with ad- 

 vantage ; iod, if the symptoms do not abate in 

 four or six hours, the operation should be re- 

 peated, to the extent of three or four quart», 

 unless the animal faint ; whenever this occurs, 

 on any occasion, the bleeding of course must be 

 stopped. Faintne^s, however, when the disease 

 is really inflammation of the lungs, is by no 

 means an unfavorable efTect of bleeding; it is 

 proof that the operation has been carried to its 

 full extent, and a recovery is most likely to 

 happen. A large seton should be put in the 

 dewlap, and moistened with oil of turpentine ; 

 and the siiies should be well rubbed with the 

 following embrocation : 



Take of flower of mustard 4 oz. 



Oil of turpentine - 2 oz. 



Water of ammonia - 2 oz. 



The whole to be mixed with as much water as 

 will bring it to the consistence of cream. 



Immediately after bleeding, give the follow- 

 ing drink : 



Take of camphor - 2 dr. 



Nitre - - li oz. 



Powdered caraway seeds 1 oz. 



To be given in a pint of gruel. 

 " Should the animal be costive, a clyster 

 should be administered, consisting of about three 

 or four quarts of warm water, and half a pound 

 of common salt. A pint of castor oil, also, may 

 be added to the above drink ; if this cannot be 

 procured, sweet oil, linseed oil, or even raeltqd 

 lard may be substituted. 



