1871] 



NEW ENGLAOT) FARRIER. 



583 



shows very plainly he is hurt. Many of the horse- 

 men have said there was a spavin coming, but if 

 that is the case, it is time, it seems to me, for it to 

 show itself. I think it is higher up, but I can find 

 no soreness to indicate where. Perhaps you or 

 your readers may have had some experience in 

 troubles of this kind, and may be able to tell me 

 what the matter is and how to cure it. 



Subscriber. 

 Harvard, Mass., Aug. 14, 1871. 



Remarks. — Horses are liable to become lame 

 from a great variety of causes. In many cases, 

 the lameness is not apparent to the eye or the 

 touch. Some of them, perhaps, ai-e rheumatic, 

 and are more evident when the animal first starts 

 off. He limps a little then, but after getting 

 warmed up a little, the limping ceases, and he is 

 all right again. 



He may have ^hat veterinary surgeons call an 

 " Occult spavin ; " that is, a spavin in progress, 

 that may in the future become developed. 



Another very common source of lameness is in- 

 jury to the cartilage of the foot. This injurj' may 

 arise from various causes. By hauling heavy loads 

 up hill, by stepping upon a stone, or bj' diiving 

 fast down hill, especially if there is much load be- 

 hind the animal. When the cartilage of any part 

 of the foot is severely injured it gradually becomes 

 ossified, or changed from a soft, pliable mass into 

 a bony substance. While this process is going on 

 the pad becomes excessively painful, as in the for- 

 mation of a ringbone. It will be an important 

 point gained to learn whether the lameness is in 

 the foot or hip. 



Some of our readers may be able to enlighten 

 you, but the safest course will be to seek the ad- 

 vice of a veterinary surgeon. 



SATURNIA 10. 



The enclosed was found on a bean leaf. Please 

 tell us about it in the New Engl.and Farmer. 



J. B. Howe. 

 Petersham, Mass., Aug. 22, 1871. 



Remarks. — You will find a description, with 

 beautiful illustrations of the caterpillar, cocoon, 

 crysalis, male and female moth or butterfly, in the 

 1862 edition of Mr. Harris's Treatise on Insects, 

 which occupj' some four pages. The State made a 

 liberal appropriation for the publication of this 

 edition, and at least one copy ought to be found in 

 each to^vn. Every neighborhood library ought 

 also to have a copy. 



The caterpillars are of a pale pea-green color, with 

 a bro\\'n stripe, edged below with white, on each side 

 of the body. Thej^ are covered with clusters of 

 green prickles, tipped with black, which sting se- 

 verely, as we had occasion to learn when a boy. 

 In eating some fruit in the dark we took one of 

 these creatures into our mouth, the upper part of 

 which was filled with the prickles, causing much 

 pain and discomfort for some time, notwithstand- 

 ing all that could be done; giving us a caution 

 about eating or drinking in the dark that we have 

 never forgotten. 



On the hind wings of the moth are two conspicu- 



ous eye-spots, from which the insect receives its 

 name, as the books say, in allusion to the ancient 

 Greek herione, lo, who, as the fable went, was jeal- 

 ouslj^ guarded by the hundred-eyed Argus. The 

 sexes differ greatly from each other ; the general 

 color of the male moth being deep yellow and that 

 of the female, purple brown, though the same pat- 

 tern is observable in both. These moths expand 

 about three inches. We are not aware that they 

 ever cause much damage to vegetation. 



re-seeding grass land.' 



My newly laid-down fields are scantily covered 

 with grass. Would it be a good plan to sow on 

 Orchard grass seed to fill vacancies ? If so, will 

 this month or September be the best time for dOr 

 ing it ? Wm. p. Exdicott. 



MUford, N. H., Aug. 16, 1871. 



Remarks. — One of the best fields of clover we 

 have seen this season was on a field laid do^\'n in 

 the spring of 1870. Owing to the drought which 

 followed, the grass seed did not come. During 

 the last week of August, last year, the field was 

 harrowed over, grass and clover seed sowed, and 

 the ground brushed over. One fine crop of clovet 

 has been cut this summer, and a good second crop 

 is now standing — Aug. 21, — on the ground. On 

 inquiry, we learn that the practice is quite common 

 in the neighborhood where this occurred, and usu- 

 ally with good results. We intend to try it on 

 fields in the same condition as those you describe. 

 Weeds may be in the way ; if so, we must pull 

 them out. The earlier the seed is in the better ; 

 but up to middle September will do. 



FOOT ROT IN cows. 



I have three cows that have the foot rot. I have 

 used nitric acid to cut it and carliolic acid and lard 

 for ointment, but to no avail. I wish to know if 

 anything can be done for them and what ? 



Subscriber. 



North Adams, Mass., Aug. 26, 1871. 



Remarks. — In reply to an inquiry for a remedy 

 for cows that had a raw surface between the hoofs, 

 and extending up to near the fetlock of the hind 

 foot. Prof. Law directed to have the foot between 

 the hoofs thoroughly cleaned by washing or by 

 drawing a piece of rag through it ; then sprinkle it 

 with calomel and cover up with tow and tar, re- 

 tained in position by a bandage. Keep dry and 

 clean, and i-epeat the dressing daily. 



In speaking of the "foul in the foot," Dr. Dadd 

 says, that the disease is caused by the sudden stop- 

 page of some natural evacuation, is evident from the 

 following facts : First, the disease is most preva- 

 lent in cold, low, marshy countries, where the foot 

 is kept constantly moist. Secondly, the disease is 

 neither contagious nor epidemic. 



In all cases of obstruction to the depurating ap- 

 paratus there is a loss of equilibrium between se- 

 cretion and excretion. The first oliject is, to re- 

 store the lost function. Previously, however, to 

 doing so, the animal must be removed to a dry 

 situation. The cause once removed, the cure is 



