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Publications of Interest to Agriculturists. 
diminished, and there is good reason to believe that if the work is continued 
for a sufficient time it will meet with success. The chief obstacle appears 
to be in connection with Ireland, where the contagion is believed to be 
widely disseminated, and where the activity of the authorities is not so 
manifest as in England and Scotland. If the contagion is allowed to linger 
in Ireland, it is very plain that Great Britain can never long remain free 
from it. 
The other infected European countries, though they maintain a veter- 
inary sanitary service, are not making satisfactory progress in eradicating 
the disease. This is due partly to delays in carrying out the provisions of 
the laws and partly to mistaken ideas as to the measures which are necessary 
to accomplish the object. The United States was the last of the countries, 
having old infected districts, which undertook to stamp out this contagion, 
and excepting Holland, it is the first to reach success. 
Abortion in cattle is a troublesome disorder which well merits 
the space of ten pages devoted to it, both the contagious and the 
non-contagious forms of the malady being noticed. With regard to 
fungus pests, regarded as conducive to abortion, we read : — 
Both ergot and smut may be safely fed in moderate quantity, provided 
it is used with succulent food (silage, roots, &c.), or with free access to 
water, and salt is an excellent accessory in encouraging the animal to drink. 
Both ergot and smut are most injurious in winter, when the water supply is 
frozen up or accessible only at long intervals. 
If the foregoing statements may be accepted as correct, they will 
serve to throw some light upon the conflicting evidence as to the 
properties of ergot — which, like yew, appears to be consumed some- 
times with disastrous results, and at other times with impunity. 
Exception must be taken to the statement (p. 192) that ergot may 
be to a large extent prevented by sprinkling the seed with a satu- 
rated solution of sulphate of copper before sowing — this is surely 
based on a misunderstanding of the life-history of the fungus. 
The last forty pages are occupied by Professor Henry’s essay on 
the feeding and management of cattle, the inclusion of which in the 
volume is justified, according to the preface, “ on account of the 
importance of the alimentation as a factor in the maintenance of 
health and cure of disease, as well as in the profitable management 
of cattle.” The composition of foods and the principles of feeding 
are first discussed, and then follow practical instructions for the 
feeding of calves, beef steers, and milch cows. One of the greatest 
difficulties encountered in calf-rearing is thus referred to : — 
Scouring, the bane of calf-rearing, usually indicates indigestion, and is 
brought on by overfeeding, irregular feeding, giving the feed too cold, or 
the animal getting chilled or wet. Prevention of disease by rational feeding 
and systematic good care is far better than poor care and unskilful feeding, 
followed by attention and solicitude in giving medicines. To check indi- 
gestion we have found the use of a tablespoonful of limewater in each feed 
very satisfactory. Successful management of the calf lies at the very 
foundation of the stock business, and calls for regularity of attendance, 
discerning at once all the little wants of the animal, and a generous disposi- 
tion to supply every need as soon as apparent. 
