64 
FRAGILITY OF THE BONES IN CATTLE. 
place that I visited with but little difference, whether the animal 
was well or ill fed, well attended to or neglected. 
From this we are led to believe that some internal cause exists — 
somewhat that favours the formation of an acid in the intestinal 
canal ; for we know that in rumination the digestive organs are the 
predominating ones, while, on the contrary, the sensitive organs 
have little influence, and therefore diseases of the digestive organs 
are of the most frequent occurrence. To this may be added, the 
different kinds of fodder, which are often prejudicial both as to 
quantity and quality ; especially when the season is bad, and the 
different crops fail, and recourse is obliged to be had to some 
substitute. 
Another cause is the bad construction and total neglect of the 
cow-houses, and the absence of pure air in them ; and, lastly, the 
absurd dislike which most owners of cattle have to allowing them 
to have any cold water. All these things tend more or less 
to favour the production of this disease, although they cannot be 
positively said to be the absolute causes of it. I am convinced 
that the foundation of the malady is laid by the giving of impure 
or mouldy food, or any kind of food which has a tendency to gene- 
rate fermentation ; and, the foundation being laid, the disease very 
soon appears. 
How is this disease to be cured 1 First, and most important of 
all, are preventive measures, since it is far easier to prevent a dis- 
ease than to cure it after it has once appeared. One of the best 
means of prevention that a farmer can adopt, is the use of the 
horse-chestnut, which is very nutritious, and easily digested. He 
should give them to all his domesticated animals for at least six 
weeks in every quarter of a year ; but as horse-chestnuts are, un- 
fortunately, very scarce with us, we must use the cheapest and 
best promoters of digestion that we can get, as prepared chalk with 
gentian root, and a little kitchen salt : 
R 1. Powdered gentian root 
Prepared chalk, and 
Kitchen salt. of each 12 ounces. 
Mix them, and give two table spoonfuls morning, noon, and night, 
in the food or the water. 
R 2. Powdered juniper berries 
Sweet flag root 
Gentian root of each 4 ounces 
Prepared chalk 
Sal fuliginis (made from wood soot) of each 6 ounces 
Kitchen salt 12 ounces. 
Mix these together, and give two table spoonfuls three times a day. 
The first recipe will be adopted by those who are obliged to be 
