CONSULTATIONS, NO. XXI. 
259 
Reply. 
Edinburgh, 5th March, 1841. 
Sir, — I have been prevented until now by an extreme pressure 
of business from answering your letter on the cause of the death of 
your cow and quey calf. I have no doubt that the pressure on 
the tongue of the calf, by interfering with its action, and also by 
preventing the action of the lower jaw, was the cause of the salts 
getting into the windpipe and producing death by suffocation. 
And although it is not so easy to explain the manner in which 
the straw, &c., got into the cow’s windpipe, I think, if the whole 
history of the case could be got at, we should be able to trace 
the cause to some such accident. It is possible she might have 
allowed these matters to have passed into the windpipe accident- 
ally, especially if she was attacked by any cough ; but it seems 
to me more likely that there had been some other affection which 
gave rise to the symptoms that existed prior to the gruel being 
administered ; and that, from rumination being suspended, she 
had had some portions of straw, &c., in her mouth at the time the 
gruel was given, and this, if she chanced to struggle or cough, 
would pass into the windpipe and ultimately destroy life. 
The simplest and best way to give liquids to a cow, when she 
is tied to the stake, is for the operator to pass his left arm under 
the cow’s jaw, and to take hold of her left cheek with two of his 
fingers, and with a horn or a bottle to pour the liquid into the 
right side of the mouth with his right hand, giving both the 
tongue and jaws as much liberty as possible. An assistant 
should steady the head, and assist in keeping it moderately high 
by taking hold of the horns. 
When cattle are held by the nostrils it frequently produces 
coughing or sneezing, and substances are apt to get into the 
windpipe. It is a bad practice to press or gripe the windpipe or 
gullet in order to make them swallow, or to take hold of the 
tongue, as is frequently done; and when they cough the head 
should be let down at once, so that, if any thing has got into the 
windpipe, it may be driven out. Accidents, such as you have 
described, are frequent, and, I think, commonly arise from the 
causes which I have alluded to, or the rough manner in which 
cattle are too commonly treated. 
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, 
William Dick. 
