Rearing of Calves. 
153 
no moans desirable immcdiatelj after being fed. Again, l)et\veen 
5 and (i o'clock in the evening, I would allow each the same 
quantity as they had in the morning. 
The calf-houses should be well supplied with rock-salt; there 
can he no second opinion as to its lieing a natural stimulus to the 
digestive organs, increasing the appetite and promoting the general 
health. We are informed bv hunters of the attraction possessed by 
salt-springs for wild animals ; nature doubtless prompting them 
tg resort where salt is to be procured to correct the influences of 
imwholesome matter. Chalk is frequently used as a preventive 
to ])urging, and may, with advantage, be ])laced where the calves 
have access to it. It is, besides, an excellent ingredient in 
all drinks given in diarrha-a or scouring. The tendency to 
purging is caused by acid, which the alkali mixing with it neu- 
tralizes, and so checks disease. The animal suffering from 
inconvenience is led to seek some corrective or palliative, and, 
though seeming at times to pick uj) food unsuited to it, it is in 
fact having recourse to simples placed within its reach. We 
observe dogs eating grass, pigs rejoicing in cinders, and cattle 
regaling themselves on grass with clay adhering to the roots ; 
nay, more, the cow has often been seen to pick up earth and eat 
it, particularly when any indigestion is present ; and in the 
account of the Wonderful Kintore Ox, given in Mr. Youatt's 
excellent work on the breeds, management, and diseases of cattle, 
we find " He had a lump of rock-salt in his manger, of which 
he was particularly fond. A basket of earth also stood by him, 
of which he occasionally ate a considerable quantity, and which 
operated as a gentle purgative. The uneasiness caused by com- 
mencing decomposition caused him to have recourse to the 
mould, and the acid being met by the alkali was rendered 
harmless." I may here observe, that, for the sake of allowing the 
cattle the corrective of the earth, I object to washing turnips ; 
the small quantity of mould adhering to them being more 
advantageous than the contrary. 
The practice of placing setons in the dewlap I consider an 
excellent one, and the more the animal is forced or pampered the 
more necessary it is. I have never had a case of quarter-ill or 
blackleg, and am disposed to think the exemption from that 
disease may be chiefly owing to the use of setons. In January 
or February I usually have them inserted, passing them through 
the loose skin of the chest, taking care not to place them too 
low down, which would cause the animal much inconvenience 
when lying, as great soreness is felt for some days. The hair of 
a cow's tail twisted to the thickness of the finder, with a wooden 
button at one end and a knot at the other, answers the purpose. 
The seton should be smeared with Venice turpentine, to cause it 
