364 
AMEBIOAA AGRICULTUKIST. 
[September, 
Hints and Helps for Farmers. 
Mr. W. E. Morton, Grand Forks Co., Da¬ 
kota, sends sketches and descriptions of some 
valuable devices for farmers. Figure 1 shows 
A Feed Box for a horse that is in the habit of 
throwing the grain out of the box, or, by get¬ 
ting his mouth too full and swinging his head 
around to one side, wastes a large part of it. 
This box is so arranged that he can get only 
Fig. 1.— A SAFETY FEED BOX. 
a few oats at a time, and they will ran down 
within his reach until all have passed through. 
The space between the upright board and the 
slanting one should be about ‘/ 2 inch. This 
size may vary considerably ; the one sketched 
by Mr. M. is 2 feet by 10 inches on the bottom ; 
the lower part 6 inches, and the upper 18 
inches in hight. The construction of the feed 
box is made plain by the engraving. Another 
Fig. 2. —ANOTHER FEED BOX. 
manner of preventing horses from throwing 
their grain out of the feed box is shown in 
figure 2. This is accomplished by nailing a 
strip of board on the sides of the common 
feed box so as to project l‘/ 2 inch inside. 
A Ditching Apparatus that is used for 
making furrows or water courses in sown 
fields is shown in figure 4. Mr. “ M.” writes: 
“The prairie here is so nearly level that the 
water does not all run off of itself unless some 
such means are taken to carry it away. The 
ditcher is made as follows : Cut a 2 by 16 inch 
plank 12 feet long, in two in the center, and 
fasten the halves together in aV-shape, using 
Fig. 3. —A DITCHING DEVICE. 
round poles for braces. It should be two feet 
wide at the hind end with boards nailed across 
the top. A piece of hard-wood 2 inches in 
diameter and 10 inches long is put through 
near the front and upper edge, by which to 
draw the ditcher. A weight of 150 lbs. is fast¬ 
ened on the front end, and the driver stands 
on the hind end, keeping it from tipping. 
Garget: Its Causes, Symptoms, and Cure. 
BY MANLY MILES, M. D., “HOUGHTON FARM,” MOUNTAIN- 
VILLE, ORANGE CO., N. Y. 
“ Garget,” “ Mammilitis,” and “ Inflamma¬ 
tion of the Udder,” are names applied to a 
troublesome and often serious disease, that 
occurs most frequently in cows, although 
ewes, mares, and sows, are sometimes affect¬ 
ed with it. It is more likely to make its ap¬ 
pearance about the time of parturition, when 
the udder is taking on an unusual activity in 
establishing its natural function of milk se¬ 
cretion. Among the many 
Causes of the Disease 
may be enumerated : External violence, as in 
blows or bruises of the gland; lying upon 
cold, damp, or stony ground; exposure to 
currents of air during cold storms ; irregu¬ 
larities in diet, and particularly a supply of 
an abundance of rich and succulent food, 
when the system is in a plethoric condition, 
at which time the healthy congestion of the 
milk-secreting organs, that accompanies the 
establishment of their function, may be 
readily transformed into a condition of active 
inflammation. Neglect to relieve the dis¬ 
tended udder of the milk secreted, or harsh 
usage in milking, will tend to favor the ten¬ 
dency to diseased action. Young cows are 
more liable to the disease, but old ones are 
not exempt from it, particularly if they have 
been affected with it in former years. An 
hereditary predisposition to the affection is 
not to be overlooked, and care should be taken, 
in such cases, to avoid all exciting causes. 
The Symptoms of the Disease 
are obvious, and should not escape attention, 
consisting, as they do, of heat, redness, and 
swelling, with pain and tenderness in one ox- 
more quarters of the udder, the entire gland 
being seldom affected. These local symptoms 
are included in the popular expression, “ cak¬ 
ing of the bag,” which may be more or less 
severe. The secretion of milk is diminished, 
and it is changed in its physical properties, so 
that it “curdles” in the udder, the fluid, 
when drawn, being whey-like, mixed with 
clots, and sometimes with blood. Indications 
of a general disturbance of the system are 
added to the local symptoms in some cases, 
the bowels being either too loose or too con¬ 
stipated, the urine scanty; and chills, more 
or less marked, which are followed by fever. 
Course of the Disease. 
In mild cases the inflammation gradually 
subsides, and the natural function of the 
gland is fully restored. The disease may, 
however, result in the filling of the secreting 
lobules and milk ducts with the products of 
inflammatory action, and the gland itself, or 
parts of it, may be transformed into a fibrous, 
fleshy mass, that contracts or wastes away, 
as the inflammation disappears, so that the 
affected part is smaller than when in a 
healthy condition. This change may be more 
or less complete in portions of the udder, and 
the usefulness of the gland is corresponding¬ 
ly impaired. Hard lumps may form in the 
udder that finally suppurate, and the matter 
(pus) may be discharged internally into the 
milk ducts, or externally through the skin. 
In some cases gangrene (mortification) may 
follow and destroy a part of the udder. When 
there is any marked change in the structure 
of the gland from the severity of the inflam¬ 
mation, the milk-secreting function is seldom, 
fully restored. 
Treatment of the Disease. 
If the first indications of the appearance of 
the disease are promptly attended to, the 
simplest treatment will be sufficient in cases 
not showing the constitutional symptoms al¬ 
ready mentioned. The cow, from the’first 
invasion of the disease, should be milked- 
several times each day, care being taken to- 
remove all the milk by continued stripping, 
and the udder should be thoroughly bathed 
with warm water. If, from the extreme ten¬ 
derness of the gland, the milk cannot be 
drawn by hand, a milking-tube should be 
used. The fever, if present, should be re¬ 
lieved by a dose of Salts (1 lb. to H lb.), and 
Tincture of Aconite, 20 to 30 drops, with Ni¬ 
tre (Saltpetre), 6 drams, may be given with, 
advantage two or three times a day. Only 
dry feed, with but little water, should be 
given until the inflammation subsides. A 
broad bandage, supporting the swollen udder, 
with holes for the teats to pass through, and. 
fastened over the back, will relieve the strain 
from the increased weight of the gland, and 
at the same time furnish the means of apply¬ 
ing a soothing poultice of Hops, kept wetr 
with warm water. Other materials for the 
poultice may be used, but the hops are pre¬ 
ferred for their lightness, and anodyne prop¬ 
erties, ana they are not liable to irritate the 
inflamed surface should they get dry. Ex¬ 
tract of Belladonna is often applied to relieve 
the pain and tenderness, and from its relax¬ 
ing effect on the orifice of the teat, it favors 
the escape of the milk, which, if retained in 
the udder, becomes a source of irritation. 
Friction of the inflamed surface with the Bel¬ 
ladonna, before the hop poultice is applied, 
will often b'e desirable. Iodine ointment may 
be rubbed upon the hardened lumps, to aid in 
their dispersion. If matter forms, the knife 
should be used to give it a free discharge, and 
if gangrene (mortification) takes place, the 
parts should be washed with a solution of 
Carbolic Acid or Chloride of Zinc. Nourishing 
feed with tonics should be given to keep up the 
strength of the patient. This serious termi¬ 
nation of the disease is not, however, likely 
to occur, if the treatment in the early stages 
has been promptly and judiciously performed. 
A Husking Rack for Corn. 
A description of a convenient “horse” or 
rack for husking com comes from Mr. J. G. 
Johnson. The sides are made of inch boards 
4 or 5 inches wide and 10 feet long. A board. 
ten inches wide and two feet long is nailed 
on each end to serve as seats for the huskers. 
The legs are two feet long, and should be stout 
and securely fastened to the frame. The 
shock of com is laid across the middle of the 
frame, as shown in the above engraving*. 
