1861. 



XEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



17 



For the New EnrrUmJ Farmer. 

 •'KEMEDY FOR CHOKED CATTLE." 



Mr. Editor : — Under this heading you gave, 

 by request, a republished article, in the Fanner, 

 Nov. od, upon the removal of foreign or lodged 

 bodies in the gullet of animals, viz. : cattle. 



Your instrument has for its recommendation 

 that of being cheap, easily made, its mode of use 

 readily understood, and of sufficient strength, if 

 the power is applied, to overcome almost any ob- 

 struction, or even make an artificial passage in 

 the most vulnerable point. 



But a thought — the thought — that "a common 

 broom-handle" is rather a formidable instrument 

 to use in cases of this kind unless used with much 

 precaution ; and though the illustrations and di- 

 rections for making and using are remarkably 

 plain, yet with only this caution, "then gently 

 press the stick, or probang, down the throat," as 

 not being quite positively cautious enough in 

 these dangerous accidents when "all hands" are 

 so liable to be excited unduly. 



As an illustration of this unnecessary excite- 

 ment a case in point will suffice. 



Not long ago I saw a noble ox that attempted 

 to eat a potato while at work, but was choked. 

 The owner called a doctor of medicine to counsel, 

 and living in a village, there were enough assist- 

 ants. They put him into the shoeing slings, and 

 with a common ox-goad pushed it down, or at 

 least pushed the goad down, but in so doing lac- 

 erated the gullet, as it afterwards proved. 



From the choking, the means used, and the very 

 violent muscular exertions of the agonized ox, he 

 died in a few minutes after, while they were pre- 

 paring "to tap." I did not see him till the ox- 

 goad had done its work of mischief. 



Ought it not then to bo emphatically enjoined 

 on the operator to gently push the stick, as this 

 accident of rupture is liable to occur ? 



Would it not be advisable to use a flexible stick, 

 if the emergency demands a resort to this mode 

 of relief, v/hem. bona fide probang is not at hand, 

 as, with its use, the liability of a fatal accident 

 •would be somewhat less, while at the same time 

 it would be abundantly efficient to apply as much 

 force as would be admissible ? 



Is not the bulb end rather large, (2^ inches in 

 diameter,) unless it is for large cattle ? The dan- 

 ger of cattle getting choked with things of this 

 size is quite small, if any, but rather with pota- 

 toes, or the like, much smaller. 



Would it not be better, before resorting to the 

 probang, to pour down the creature a half pint of 

 oil to lubricate the passage, and by manipulations 

 for its ejection, or injection, quite perseveringly, 

 try a much safer mode of procedure ? 



In good old "tater" times, it was not a very un- 

 common occurrence, hereabouts, for cattle to get 

 choked, and we ruralists could almost always get 

 the offender up or down — up, was preferred, — 

 ■with but little difficulty, when it was lodged in the 

 upper part of the passage, or where it could be 

 felt externally, by tying the creature to a post or 

 stanchion, by the horns, and having one fore foot 

 held up by a rope or strap over the back, and 

 manipulations. 



Perhaps this may be called rather a primitive 

 mode by some, but it has been all efficient in 

 so many instances where probangs and veterinary 



surgeons had not even been heard of, in bygone 

 days, that, with the oil modification, I have quite a 

 good opinion of its efficiency. 



This is an important subject, and any light or 

 knowledge upon it that you or your many intelli- 

 gent correspondents can emit through the col- 

 umns of the Farmer, will be useful to others in 

 emergencies of this kind. 



The more simple and efficient ways known the 

 the better, yet it is not intended to be intimated 

 that the probang will not be required in some ob- 

 stinate cases, and then that some will prove fatal 

 if even cesophagotomy is resorted to with the aid 

 of experienced counsel, which is unfortunately 

 not often to be obtained in rural districts in a 

 reasonable time. 



But as the veterinary art is justly rect'ving 

 more attention, it is to be hoped that ere long tne 

 services of those who are qualified can readily be 

 obtained when serious accidents hapi)en to any 

 of our domesticated animals. O. W. True. 



THE "WEALTH I'VE GOT. 



BY HENRY MORFORD. 



Not houses ani lots in a principal street, 

 Not rich fields flowing with golden wheat, 

 Not darksome mines deep stored with gold, 

 Not piles of ingots in coffers old ; 

 Not these, though they fill so many a lot — 

 These form no part of the wealth I've got. 



I'm poorer to-day than a year ago, 

 I was poorer then than I cared to know, 

 The future has nothing but struggle and care, 

 For the bread to eat and raiment to wear^ 

 Yet I still look onward and murmur not, 

 For I'm very rich in the wealth I've got. 



I've kind ones to love me, rich or poor ; 

 I've friends whom I hold with a friendship sure ; 

 I've pleasures and duties, day by day. 

 And work for each hour that passes away ; 

 I've a home with its treasures — earth's dearest spot- 

 Where I hoard, like a miser, the wealth I've got. 



I've a heart, thank God ! that loves mankind ; 

 I've a spirit, thank God ! that can be resigned : 

 I've a hope to finish some trifle of good 

 Before I lie down for the grave -worm's food ; 

 I've a hop? that neither stain nor blot, 

 Will cling, when I'm gone, to the wealth I've got. 



I've a trust in the Master whose tender care 



Giveth bread to eat and raiment to wear ; 



I've a firm, stout heart, that he giveth ma, 



To bear whatever my fortune may be ; 



So earth can be never a sorrowful spot, 



While kind Heaven leaves me the wealth I've got. 



Fairs. — The editor of the Michigan Farmer 

 gives a table of entries at the Annual State Fairs 

 of 1860 and 1859, from which it appears that there 

 was a falling off this year equal to 25 per cent, 

 in every department. He also says : — "We have 

 looked carefully through all our country exchanges 

 of this State to see what was said of the several 

 county fairs that have been held this fall, and find 

 them almost without exception filled with com- 

 plaints of apathy and want of interest, desolate 

 halls, empty tables and dissatisfied lookers-on." 



