AMEEIOAIs'' AGEIO U U EiST 
55 
1884 .] 
to soups of any kind. If one has been at some 
work requiring unusualiy vioient exercise, nothing 
is so refresiiing, or wili ‘‘set one up’’ more quickly 
and thoroughly than a cupful of strong beef tea or 
good mutton brotli. If one has to ride or walk 
long in intensely cold weather, the ears, the most 
exposed portion, are liable to be frozen and cause 
much pain afterwards. Ear muffs, of some warm 
fabric, may be worn to cover the ears, or these may 
be bound close against the head, where tliey will 
be kept warm by using a thin woollen comforter. 
The comfort of the farmer’s family should not be 
overlooked. Very old farm-houses, and those that 
are cheaply built for temporary use until a better 
can be afforded, are often most uncomfortable in 
severe weather. Windows and doors admit the ex¬ 
ternal air more freely than is required for ventila¬ 
tion. Weather-strips made of India rubber are 
very effective, but they are not to be had every¬ 
where, and require more of an outlay than is al¬ 
ways convenient. A little ingenuity will provide 
substitutes. For the windows, place small wedges 
between the upper and lower sashes, to prevent 
rattling, then paste on strips of brown paper to 
close all the cracks, using stiff flour paste, or that 
made from rye meal with a little alum added. 
It is well to leave one upper sash to be let dow'ii, 
as may be required for ventilation. Doors may be 
made tight by tacking tailor’s listing or folded 
strips of woollen cloth along the sides and tops. 
The opening at the bottom of doors is usually the 
largest. For these, take pieces of small scantling, 
of the proper length, and cover with old carpet or 
other convenient fabric, stuffing the side which 
goes against the door, wdtli wool, cotton, or even 
with bay, to make a sort of cushion. While it is 
well enough to have the kitchen door open directly 
into the room in summer, it is very uncomfortable 
for the inmates in wdnter. If possible, a storm door 
wdiich can be closed before the kitchen door is 
opened, should be provided. This may be made in 
such a manner as to be taken away in warm weath¬ 
er and stored for future use. Sleeping rooms in 
farm-houses are usually cold. Those w'lio suffer 
from cold feet should not be deterred from making 
themselves comfortable through fear or being 
thought “ old womanish.” If one cannot sleep on 
account of cold feet, he should warm them. Bot¬ 
tles of hot water will answer, but are not so good 
as blocks of soap-stone. Blocks of hard-wood, 
that have no turpentine, if placed in the stove oven 
early in the evening, will be found excellent foot 
warmers. In driving in the country in very cold 
weather, a foot warmer of some kind will add great¬ 
ly to the comfort of those making the jouimey. 
Treatment of Animal Ailments. 
WTPROF, D. D. SLADE, SI. D., V. S., HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 
Swelled Legs in Horses. —correspondent 
from Beaver Springs, Pa., writes : “ What shall I do 
with my colt? At times her hind legs, and sometimes 
a front one, swell immediately above the fetlock 
joint up to the knee. When I drive her it goes 
away, and as soon as she gets into cold water, it 
swells up. Sometimes it comes of itself_” The 
affection shows a weak circulation, dependent 
upon constitutional causes ; or to a low condition 
or debility, the result perhaps of improper or in¬ 
sufficient nourishment, or excessive or irregular 
work. Treatment .—Avoid exposure to wet and 
■cold, and to cold currents of air upon the legs. 
Dry the limbs thoroughly by hand-rubbing, and 
apply a flannel bandage evenly from the foot up, 
continuing its use as long as the disposition to 
swelling lasts. Never allow the limbs to remain 
wet or muddy ; a box stall is preferable. The diet 
should be abundant and varied, green roots, espec¬ 
ially carrots, daily are essential. If the animal is 
at all out of condition, give half an ounce daily of 
pulverized gentian in the food, and if this is not 
sufficient, try two drams of sulphate of iron in¬ 
stead. Exercise regularly. The chief object of 
this is to improve the general health of the animal. 
Worms in Horses. —“C. H. M.” writes from Hub- 
•bard, Ohio: “ I have a-horse, four years old last 
spring, not doing well; he is poor and thin, and 
feed does him no good. He has been troubied 
with worms, about six inches long and as thick as 
a small slate pencil. He drinks much water, yet 
seems ahvays to be dry, and passes a large quanti¬ 
ty of ciear urine. His appetite is good. I have 
given him calomel and tartar emetic, followed by 
linseed oil, and have seen no worms since. What 
shall I do to get him into good condition ?.... ” 
The worms described inhabit the small intestines 
and are common. Examine the discharges fre¬ 
quently to notice if any worms are still present. 
The diet must be generous, with a liberal supply 
of grain, varied by using roots, or green food. 
Give tonics daily with the food, such as two to 
four drams of sulphate of iron, or four drams of 
pulverized Gentian, or, the same of Columbo, un¬ 
til a decided change in condition appears. As the 
animal improves in health, there will be less chance 
of harboring parasites. Give plenty of exercise, 
warm and sunny shelter, and sufficient pure water. 
Pay great attention to the condition of the skin 
by proper grooming, and have due regard to strict 
cleanliness of the animal and his surroundings. 
Heaves. — W. G. Herron, of Carroll Co., Ohio, 
asks us : “What is the best remedy for heaves in 
horses ?”... .This affection is similar to asthma in 
man, and is dependent in most cases upon some 
structural changes in the lungs, induced by over¬ 
exertion. It is most frequent in old horses, but 
may be present in the young, especially if narrow 
or small-chested. The treatment can be only pal¬ 
liative ; nothing can restore the altered lungs to 
their original condition, except possibly in veiy 
mild and recent cases. Give special attention to 
the food and its administration, feeding regularly 
that containing much nutriment in a small bulk. 
Therefore avoid hay, except a very smail quantity 
at night, and that must be sweet and free from 
dust. Dry grain, carrots, turnips, potatoes, or any 
vegetables, form the best concentrated food. 
Bruised grain answers excellently well. Kestrict 
the quantity of water, and give moderate exercise 
daily. No food should be taken for at least two 
hours before going to work, and the bowels must 
be kept loose. The rationale of the treatment is 
that as distention of the stomach or the intestines 
by coarse food or drink, presses upon the dia¬ 
phragm, and hence upon the weakened lungs-, im¬ 
peding their free action and causing the symptoms 
presented; this distention must be guarded 
against, by giving sufficient food in small bulk, and 
at such times as will less interfere with the work. 
Such aromatics as Caraway seed. Cardamon, or Gin¬ 
ger, in one ounce doses, mixed in the drink or 
food, often relieves the flatulence and indigestion 
from which broken winded horses frequently suffer. 
Murrain in Cattle. Southern Cattle Fever. 
—A correspondent at Kings Point, Tenn., asks: 
“ What is the cause of murrain in cattle ? Are the 
kidneys affected? What the cure? How can the 
disease be prevented ?”_The term murrain has 
been, and is still, very loosely used. It has been 
applied to various animal plagues, but should be 
restricted in our country to the Southern cattle 
fever or Texas fever. It is a specirtc disease, due 
to contagion which takes place through the dis¬ 
charges from the bowels. The kidneys, as weli as 
the other internal organs, are generally much dis¬ 
organized. As yet no medical treatment has been 
discovered which can be reiied on as certain in its 
effieacy. Scientific researcii, still going on, may 
provide an antidote in the near future. Prevention 
can only be adopted by keeping the cattle from 
contaminated districts, until after the first severe 
frosts, which arc supposed to destroy the virus. 
Sw'iNE Plague.— “ W. S. R.,” Washington, Kan., 
asks us in relation to a sow which had a healthy 
litter of pigs, but died six or seven weeks after. 
He says: “She occasionally staggered, but this in¬ 
creased so that I took the pigs away. She was 
anxious to eat, but could not walk six feet with¬ 
out falling. Her back humped up, with all her feet 
in a bunch under her belly. She would lie five or 
six hours in the same position, but when 
disturbed would struggle and seem as 
if in great pain. She grew worse, so I 
ended her sufferings. One of the pigs 
died without any previous sickness, eat¬ 
ing well at dark, and found dead in the 
morning. On examination, a bole about 
the size of a pin was found through the 
large intestine, from which some of the 
contents .had escaped.”_The sow 
evidently died from the swine plague, 
which is a specific contagious disease, 
and very fatal. No treatment is advisa¬ 
ble. Bury the carcass at once, beyond 
the reach of dogs, and watch the sur¬ 
vivors for the first symptoms of the 
disease, and separate immediately from the others. 
The pig died from peritonitis, no doubt induced 
by the perforation of tlic intestines. The per¬ 
foration was probably the result of the stoppage 
of the bowel at this point, by an impacted mass 
of the contents, or by some other impediment. 
Lights in the Barn. 
It is estimated that nine-tenths of all fires are 
caused by carelessness. Now is the season when 
the lantern is frequently used in the barn, and we 
give a word of caution. Never light a lamp or 
lantern of any kind in the barn. Smokers may in¬ 
clude their pipes and cigars in the above. The 
lantern should be lighted in the house or some out¬ 
building where no combustibles are stored. A 
lantern which does not burn well, should never 
be put in order in the hay mow. There is a 
great temptation to strike a matcii and re-light an 
extinguished lantern, wherever it may be. It is 
best to even feel one’s way out to a safe place, than 
to run any risks. If the light is not kept in the 
hand, it should be hung up. Provide hooks in 
the various rooms where the lights are used. A 
wire running the whole length of the horse stable, 
at the rear of the stalls, and furnished with a 
sliding hook, is very convenient for night work 
with the horses. Some farmers are so careless, as 
to keep the lamp oil in the barn, and fill the 
lantern there while the wick is burning. Such risks 
are too great, even if the buildings are Insured. 
A Wrought Iron TJnclimbable Gate. 
The engraving shows the construction of a gate 
intended for situations much exposed to trespass¬ 
ers. It is made of upright strips of flat iron, 
A WROUGHT IRON GATE. 
pointed at the top, and fastened by rivets to a 
stout frame work of iron. The “pickets” are 
placed two to three inches apart, as desired for the 
appearance of the gate or according to the size of 
the poultry or animals to be kept from passing. 
Fig. 5.— EXTERIOR OF THE COMPLETED HOUSE. —Page 64. 
