126 



THE GARDEN AND FIELD. 



August, 1913 



What Farmers Should Know 

 About Veterinary Science. 



This would be a long story, 

 should I attempt to cite in 

 this paper evervthin<r that farmers 

 might know about veterinary 

 science. I will endeavour to out- 

 line only what should be known, 

 and make a long story short, 

 writes an American farmer. 



The general hygienic conditions 

 under which animals are kept 

 plays one of the most important 

 roles in health as well as disease. 

 A properlv ventilated barn toge- 

 their with good clean bedding 

 where general sanitation prevails, 

 is a health-giver and a health- 

 sustainer. We must not overlook 

 feeding, I mean proper feeding, for 

 by this is understood not only 

 the quantitv of food given, but the 

 quality, two different things which 

 nevertheless must at all times be 

 combined. A great deal of good 

 judgment must be used in connec- 

 tion with feedintf. One must take 

 into consideration the general con- 

 dition of the individual, his habits, 

 temperament, size, weight, the kind 

 and amount of work he does, and 

 under what condition the latter is 

 under what condition the latter 

 is done. Care must also be 

 taken when and how water should 

 be given, especiallv to horses, for 

 the injudicious drinking of water 

 is a trouble maker. 



— Care in Feeding. — 



The number of diseases which 

 might be traced back to careless 

 feeding, as a primary cause, is 

 great, henceforth care must be 

 exercised. There are imdoubtedly 

 more animals dying from over- 

 feefling than from want of food. 



— Recognising Disease. — 



Ask a stockman, or farmer, if he 

 can recognise disease, and,.- he will 

 consider the question a foolish 

 one. Xevertheless the majority 

 cannot. Those unable to do so 



should aim to receive instruction 

 with reference to the ways and 

 means bv which disease is recog- 

 nised. Such teaching is done at 

 the agricultural colleges for the 

 benefit of those interested. If s^ou 

 find out that your horse is sick, 

 just about the time he is almost 

 dead, the " almost " will be of a 

 very short duration, and you will 

 have the " remains." Thus the 

 importance of being able to detect 

 from the start any deviation from 

 the normal, and to seek remedy 

 and relief right from the begin- 

 ning. Many diseases may be 

 averted when cared for at the 

 outset, and if not averted, its 

 general course shortened, or many 

 unfortunate and sometimes fatal 

 complications avoided by proper 

 treatment. 



The cure of the sick does not 

 limit itself to the calling of a 

 doctor or to his repeated' visits, 

 or the administration of i)rescribed 

 medicines, but includes every pos- 

 sible care and comfort available to 

 the patient. Do not hesitate in 

 many instances to use less medi- 

 cine and to cater for better nurs- 

 ing, for the latter cannot be given 

 to excess but always to the 'best 

 advantage. 



People owning animals should be 

 versed in the art of giving medi- 

 cines, and although its administra- 

 tion seems ordinarilv \ erv simple, 

 yet very often it is done impro- 

 j>erly and leads sometimes to dis- 

 astrous results. There is much 

 to be said with reference to the 

 proper administration of medi- 

 cines. 



— Promptness. — 



Owing to the fact that a great 

 many diseases require immedi- 

 ate attention, for they might 

 prove fatal otherwise, it is neces- 

 sary for the stockowner to fam.ili- 

 arise himself with the diagnosis of 

 a few of the most common dis- 

 orders met, with : indigestion, colic, 

 inflammd^tion of the stomach and 

 bowels. He should also enable 



himself to differentiate between 

 colic and inflammation of the 

 bowels, which is of the utmost im-' 

 portance when it ojmes to giving 

 l^roper treatment for their relief. 



Influenza, a disease which spreads 

 rapidly, should be maintained un- 

 der control and given close atten-- 

 tion, for serious complications 

 might arise, as a sequel of im- 

 proper treatment and care. 



— Accidents. — 



Everyone ought to have some 

 knowledge with reference to acci- 

 dents which are liable to' occur at 

 any time and place. I would sug- 

 gest to every farmer to have in his 

 possession, 'besides a few other 

 remedies, at least one antiseptic, 

 so as to enable him to make anti- 

 septic solutions ; also a dusting 

 powder, cotton, and a few good 

 bandages. These things might not 

 be used very often, but when they 

 are wanted, the}'- are needed badly 

 and quickly. 



The recognition of contagious, in- 

 fectious, and communicable dis- 

 eases among domestic animals is 

 of such importance that it could 

 not be sufficiently impressed upon 

 the minds of people, to take quick 

 action and remedy for same when- 

 ever their presence is manifested. 

 This is best done bv reporting im- 

 mediately to the State veterin- 

 arian. But little can be done in 

 connection with this, unless the 

 authorities supervising the means 

 by which it can be controlled^ 

 and its eradication established, 

 have the support and co-operation 

 of the community at large. 



In conclusion I will say that it 

 is in the interest of all veterinari- 

 ans, as well as it is in the far- 

 mer's own interest, that the latter 

 should have a general knowledge 

 of the various diseases of domesti- 

 cated animals most commonly met 

 with. Whether or not the farmer 

 knows anything about disease it- 

 self with respect to its symptoms 

 or treatment, he should under no 

 consideration be ignorant of the 



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