278 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



For the Southern Planter. 

 HOLLOW HORN. 



Mr. Editor, — I recollect having seen it re- 

 commended in one of the late numbers of the 

 Planter, to saw off the horns of cattle, as a re- 

 medy for the disease known as " hollow horn," 

 and I have no doubt it might be attended with 

 benefit in many cases. I have been a close ob- 

 server of this disease for many years, and will 

 give you my opinion of it. I will first say 

 something of the cause and character of the 

 disease, and then inform you of a long tried and 

 most successful remedy. I have often heard it 

 said, by way of ridiculing the disease, that a 

 hollow belly produces the hollow horn. On the 

 contrary, I esteem it a most formidable and fatal 

 disease, existing frequently where it is little sus- 

 pected ; it extends beyond the horns and per- 

 vades the whole system ; hence cows without 

 horns may have, not the hollow horn, but the 

 same disease. In the last forty years I have 

 examined and cured many cases, and I have 

 universally found what is called the " rot in the 

 tail" connected with the disease of the horn. — 

 They begin to decline and continue to do so, in 

 spite of the best attention you can pay them. 

 Upon feeling the horns, you will find them cold, 

 and on raising the tail, it will be seen to bend 

 short about three or four inches from the end, 

 where it is entirely soft. Now, although it may 

 be true that a hollow belly sometimes produces 

 the hollow horn, yet I have known it come on 

 very suddenly, and it frequently attacks fat cat- 

 tle ; it generally makes its appearance in the 

 spring. It is my impression that it is caused by 

 exposure to cold, the effect of which is exhibited 

 in the horns and tail. Poor cattle suffer more 

 from cold than those in better condition, and in 

 this way it may be that they are more liable to 

 the hollow horn. It is possible that through 

 the spine the horns and the tail may be more 

 intimately connected than would at first appear. 

 It is also my impression that cattle in good con- 

 dition, resist the disease better and finally over- 

 come it, without its having exhibited itself in its 

 external form ; but if after lurking in the system 

 it finally comes to light in the horns and tail, the 

 attack has the appearance of being a sudden 

 one, and is considered more severe than usual. 



Now for the remedy. I have admitted that 

 sawing off the horns may in some cases be ef- 

 fectual, but I have known some cows to have 

 it repeatedly, when this cure could not be so 

 readily applied. My plan is to bore a hole with 

 a gimlet in each horn, three or four inches from 

 the head, on the under side, to prevent rain or 

 snow from getting into it. You will find the 

 horn hollow, though a little blood may appear: 

 at the same time, part the hair about three inches 

 from the end of the tail (on the under side is 

 most convenient,) and split the tail from that 



point upwards, about three inches: let the inci- 

 sion reach quite to the centre, for you will not 

 find a particle of bone. Open the cut, and fill 

 it with salt ; close it up, and wrap a rag several 

 times around it, which should be fastened with 

 a string not tied too tight ; leave the holes in 

 the horns without putting any thing in them. 



I have never known this remedy to fail, and 

 I have often seen it, administered when they 

 were down, enable them to rise in six hours. — 

 But when the cattle were very fat and discharged 

 a foul viscid matter from the nose, I have some- 

 times been unable to relieve them. 



I have little doubt that nine-tenths of the cat- 

 tle in Virginia die of this disease, and frequently 

 when it is unsuspected. I know that many 

 will be incredulous about the efficacy of this re- 

 medy, but all I ask is, give it a fair trial ; at any 

 rate, I am not afraid to show my approval of 

 Mr. Venable's ideas concerning anonymous wri- 

 ters, by subscribing myself, 



Yours, respectfully, 



W. TlMBERLAKE. 



Belle Air, Oct. 28, 1844. 



P. S. — Whilst I have my pen in hand, I will 

 make a suggestion upon another very important 

 subject. I think we can never succeed in im- 

 proving our cattle, sheep, and hogs, whilst the 

 males are permitted to run at large, by which 

 we are not only disappointed in obtaining the 

 cross we wish, but our calves, lambs, and pigs 

 come at a season which renders them almost 

 worthless to the owner. I therefore suggest, 

 with due deference, that your subscribers use 

 their influence to obtain the passage of a law, 

 which shall prevent such animals, especially 

 bulls and boars, from running at large. I am 

 sure, for many reasons, that it is the interest of 

 the whole community, and that it ought to be 

 done. W. T. 



We think the suggestion of Mr. Timberlake 

 a feasible and most excellent one ; certain it is, 

 that it is useless for us to be talking about the 

 advantages of improved stock, and the princi- 

 ples of judicious breeding, as long as we are 

 liable to have our sows invaded by every runt 

 of a boar that may chance to roam the woods. 

 A general law for restraining stock has been 

 advocated by many, and might be possibly pro- 

 ductive of more good than evil; but the sense 

 of the community is against it, and there are 

 many poor people whom it would deprive of the 

 only food they have for their cattle. As to this 

 proposition of Mr. Timberlake's, for the restraint 

 of males, whilst it would be invaluable to the 

 judicious breeder, we see little or no inconve- 

 nience that it would cause to any. 



