204 
AMEEIOAlSr AGRICULTUEIST, 
[Mat, 
’How to Make and Set Lightning Rods. 
The extra charge of electricity in the passing cloud 
wants to get to the earth, and it will eftect a passage 
if it is possible. The air resists it. If there is just 
enough of even a poor conductor to enable it to over¬ 
come the air's resistance, down it will go. 1st. If the 
partial conductor can not carry it all, it will n-nd a way, 
splitting trees, demoiishing house-timbers, numbing or 
destroying living bodies. — 2d. It will choose tlio path 
that offers the least resistance. It will follow a long 
way round through copper or iron, rather than take a 
short cut through any poorer conductor.—3d. If a sharp 
point is at the top of a roadway, it will come down in a 
smali stream; but if a large ball or blunt end is pre¬ 
sented, it will come down in a mass.—4th. It will seek the 
shortest possible route through theresistingair. — 5th. If 
a'rod of iron stands on one end of a roof, and an electric 
cloud chances to pass near the other end, and there is 
some moisture or metal in the building, there may be on 
the whole a better roadway from the cloud to the earth, 
than to go through the long air space to reach the rod, 
and that part of the barn may get the charge. — 6th. If in 
passing through a building, the electricity has to cross 
an air space, near hay or straw, it may develop heat 
in the air and it will be quite likely to start a fire. 
How TO Set Lightning Rods.— There is a great deai 
of nonsense and hnmbuggery about Lightning Rods. 
All that is needed is to furnish the electricity with a 
better channel than it can find in a barn or house, or 
other building. Run a round or square iron rod, three- 
quarters to one inch through, or a copper one,five-eighths 
inch in diameter, down in the earth where it is always 
moist and up on the outside of tlie buiiding. to a few 
feet above its highest point, and the electricity wiii 
ALWATS follow that rod. If the top of the rod termi¬ 
nates in one or two, or better three sharp points, kept 
bright by silvering or nickeling (not absoluteiy neces¬ 
sary), the electricity will come down so quickly, that it 
will never be perceived. A galvanized iron rod (that is 
one coated with tin or zinc) will last longer, because it 
will not rust. 
Rote 1.— The conducting power of a lightning rod 
seems to depend largely upon its surface; hence, a gas 
pipe does nearly as well as a solid iron rod. 
Rote 2.—The twisting of rods, the many ingenious 
forms so much set forth, and plating, are useless exi)ense. 
Give the electricity a good sized metal rcid with no breaks, 
and it will not care for twists and grooves and angles. 
Rote 3.—Glass insulators, angles, braces, etc., etc., are 
an useless expense. If a rod is held upright by wooden 
supports, the lightning will never leave the metal to go 
oft' through wood of any kind. 
Rote 4.—Let the top end of the rod be above the 
highest point of the roof, chimney, or cupola. If the 
roof is large and long, run the rod up to the ridge and 
along it, with a branch running up in two or more places. 
It is well to have the upright rods and points so high, 
and frequent, that there will be no points of the roof 
more than twice the hight of the rod from its foot, thus : 
k 
B 
Let A and B be the ridge of a roof, with an iron rod 
running along it and down to the moist earth; E and P 
two upright rods, with one or more sharp points at the 
top, and welded fast to the running rods A—B. If tlie 
distance A to C, or C to G, or G to D, or D to B, be not 
more than double the highfof the rods E and P, they will 
afi'ord ample protection to the roof. 
Make Youu Own Lightning Rods. —Buy enough 
inch iron rod, round or square (it is cheap now). Have 
one end planted in the earth some ways into soil always 
moist, with any larger old iron of any kind in contact with 
it. An old iron mould-board will do ; or let its foot stand 
in a weil that is never dry. The rod may connect with 
an ever-flowing tiie or stone drain. Rim the rod up the 
outside of the building, wherever most convenient, either 
at the gable end, or by the side over the eaves, and along 
the roof to the ridge and along it. Support the rod 
where needed with wooden biocks or braces, or brackets, 
nailed against the side of the house. Have no break in 
the rod anywhere ; if in pieces, let the blacksmith make 
a good weld, not letting the welded part be smaller than 
the rest. Get your blacksmith to weld on some half or 
three-quarter inch rods as needed, according to Note 4 
above. Let him split the top end into three parts, flar¬ 
ing them out three ways, or weld on three small pieces 
four or five inches long, sharpening the point. The tips 
you can have covered with a little gold or silver leaf,.or if 
convenient, have them nickel-plated. If not easy to do 
this, apply a little paint, and wrap the points in gold or 
silver leaf, or in tin foil.—All the above will cost but 
little, and will be just as effective as the five or ten times 
more expensive lightning rod man's " jiggle-ma-gees.” 
N. B.—Many dealers supply ready prepared three¬ 
pronged plated points at smali cost, ready for you to 
screw them on to the top of the upright terminai rods. 
Lightning rods induce a feeling of safety. 
Animal Ailments. 
!dB. D. D. SLADE. 
Crib-Biting.— “ Is there any way of preventing a young 
colt from crib-biting?”—Turn him out into a yard or en¬ 
closure where he can get exercise and a chance to pick 
up earth. If obliged to house him, put him into a loose 
box where there is no woodwork which he can seize 
with his teeth. Give him exercise in some way. 
Impaction op the JIanipolds.— “ Is there any remedy 
where the manifolds become packed so hard that it will 
require some effort to move them, which condition was 
shown on e.xaminalion ?”—If the diagnosis of this condi¬ 
tion can be made from the syniiitoms, and sncii is gener¬ 
ally the case, a full cathartic should be given without de- 
lay.consisting of a pound of Epsom salts to the ox or cow, 
to which may be added two ounces each of gentian and 
ginger, and twenty drops cf croton oil. Stimulants must 
also be given, of which carbonate of ammonia in four- 
drachm doses every four hours is perhaps the most suit¬ 
able. The action of the purgative may be hastened by 
injecting warm water into the rectum. The animal 
should be encouraged to drink all the fluid possible. If 
in twelve hours there is no action of the purgative, it 
may be repeated. 
Retained After-birth.- '• Can anything be done for 
cows that do not clean ?'’—There is too often anxiety on 
this point, when, with a little patience, nature will com¬ 
plete what she has begun. If there is delay beyond forty- 
eight hours, the piacenta, or after-birth, with the mem¬ 
branes, should be removed by mechanical means. The 
hand, well covered with oil or fresh lard, should be care¬ 
fully passed into the vagina, and, following the cord, 
which is kept tense with the other hand, the placenta is 
grasped, and if retained by centers of attachment, these 
are to be gently peeled off or squeezed by the fingers, and 
the ivhole mass removed. All should be accomplished 
with the utmost gentleness and care. A dose of Rpsom 
salts may sometimes be useful in hastening matters, if 
the above method is not practicable. 
Clipping Horses.— There is no subject upon which 
there is a greater variety of opinion than this. It would 
be impossible to give an opinion suitable to every case, 
but the following will apply generally. Nothing can 
compare in beauty to the natural coat, when in its best 
conditioti. Where speed is required and the coat is very 
long, clipping may be done, provided care is taken after¬ 
wards to prevent chills, The operation should be done 
ill early winter. The animal should never be allowed to 
stand exposed for any length of time to cold winds— 
pneumonia and congestion are the frequent consequence. 
At best, it is an unnatural proceeding, and'is too often a 
substitute for elbow grease, and is always attended with 
risks. Sheep are often killed by cold storms after shearing. 
Scabby Skin Disease.— Manifested by sores in the 
mane ai.d top of shoulder Give more laxative food, 
roots, and bran mashes, and moderate exercise daily. 
Keep the skin clean by Ihorongh grooming, brushing and 
rubbing. Use upon the sores daily a small amount of 
iodide of sulphur ointment. 
Bl.\ck Leg in Cattle. —Black leg is a constitutional 
malignant afl'ection, scientiflcally known as Anthrax, or 
Charboti, and commutiicated by a virus or poison. The 
exact conditions imder which the disease arises are at 
presetit unknown, but scientific research has established 
the fact that it is due to germs which are developed 
under certain atmospheric conditions upon lands which 
are rich and utidrained. There is no cure adapted to all 
cases. The diseased animals must be at once separated 
from the healthy, and kept under strict guard. All car¬ 
cases and everything which Las come in contact with the 
disease, must be burned or buried very deeply. All in¬ 
fected buildings must be thoroughly disinfected, and 
pastures abandoned. Stamp out the disease if possible. 
Itching Cattle.—I n all probability the irritation is 
due to the presence of parasites, if not to lice, to an in¬ 
sect which burrows beneath the skin, and thus escapes 
superficial observation. If due to the first cause, bathe the 
parts thoroughly every day, with a saturated solution of 
kerosene and water. If to the second, use sulphur oint¬ 
ment rubbed into the parts, especially where there are 
pimples or excoriations. Keep the animais clean by the 
thorough use of a ctird and brush that are kept for them 
alomn and for no others. Keep the premises clean. 
Diarrhcea in Calves. —This is due to imperfect di¬ 
gestion. Change the food and give half the quantity of 
liquid. Scald the milk, adding sutficient flour to thicken 
it. If this docs not relieve, add a little prepared chalk 
to the food. Keep the animal clean and dry in a warm,, 
sunny pen. Feed with regularity three limes a day. 
Coal-Ashes to Swine. —Coal-ashes are not injuriotiSy 
although wooil-ashes are preferable, and swine should 
have access to them. Black teeth will not kill the ani¬ 
mals, if proper treatment is adopted. Let them have 
access to earth, charcoal and wood-ashes. Keep the skin 
clean, and allow plenty of pure air and water, and when 
possible, green food. If necessary, give half an ounce of 
sulphur with the food, according to circumstances. 
Parasites in Nasal Passages.— These are the larvse- 
of a fly which creep up into the nose of sheep. Boil one 
pound of tobacco in a gallon of water, turn the sheep on 
to its back, and holding the head firmly, inject with con¬ 
siderable force by means of a good syringe, a table-spoon¬ 
ful of the liquid, directing the syringe upwards, into the- 
nostrils. Repeat the operation from time to time, as long 
as there are symptoms of the presence of parasites. 
Feeding of Horses. —The fattening qualities of corn 
as compared with oats, is shown by the greater amount of 
oil it contains, being nearly double that of oats. There¬ 
fore, if used as food for working horses, it should be- 
given in these proportions. Equal quantities of corn and 
oats should not be ground together. Such a mixture is 
dangerous. Oats should be given whole, unless neces¬ 
sary to bruise them for a special reason. Corn ground 
with the cob adds to its bulk, and does away with some 
objections to its use. Hay fed with the grain, helps the 
digestion of the latter. 'We should prefer not to moisten 
the grain—particularly if the animal is a greedy feeder. 
Bran mashes should be given at least once a week in 
place of grain, or better still, carrots twice a week. 
Garget.—Ropy Milk. —Several correspondents desire 
information in regard to garget in its different stages. 
This disease is an inflanunation of the milk glands, 
most commonly coming on just previous to or at the 
time of calving, but may appear with greater or less 
severity at any time when the flow of milk is abundant. 
The symptoms are, enlargement of the udder, which be¬ 
comes hard, congested and painful; one or both sides 
may be attacKed, and, on pressure. Hard cakes may be felt 
in the udder, the teats, sympathetically becoming tense, 
painful, and often nearly or entirely impervious. The 
milk, when drawn, is ropy, and if the inflammation goes 
on, may become bloody and mixed with matter. Of 
course, the object of any treatment is, first to allay the 
inflammation. For this purpose, bathe or foment the 
udder and teats in warm water, or with warm soap suds. 
If the organ is very much swollen, support it by means 
of a bag or bandage passed over the hind-quarters, cutting 
holes for the teats. In this bag may be placed a liuseed- 
and-meal poultice, if the inflammation continues great. 
If necessary, draw oft’ the milk by a milk-tube, which 
shouid be done three times a day. Give a jmrge of half, 
a pound of salts, lessen the amount of food, which should 
be very simple, without grain, and offer very little fluid. 
If the glands remain hard after inflammation has sub¬ 
sided, rub with iodine ointment. The too early and sud¬ 
den removal of the calf often brings on this condition. 
The restoration of the call may sometimes greatly ac¬ 
celerate the cure. It we interfere with nature’s laws, we 
must sooner or later suffer the consequences. 
Commencement of the Amei-ican 
■Veteriiaary College. —This institution i& 
gaining by degrees the position it has a claim to by the 
good work it is doing—and the progress and recogni¬ 
tions that our people are beginning to grant to'Veteri¬ 
nary Medicine. But a few years ago Veterinary Colleges, 
were unknown m the United States, and now that several 
have been open, have died and been resuscitated, thm 
American Veterinary College, with her Graduating Class 
of ’84, her alumni of one hundred and twenty-three 
graduates, stands ahead of all institutions of its kind in 
this countiy. The winter session has just closed, and 
the following gentlemen have received their degree: 
Francis Sherwin Allen, B. S., of Mass.; Armin Ernest 
Brum, D. V. S., of N. Y.; Arthur Decalb Galbraith, of 
Indiana; Elwood G. Gilbert, of Pa.; Wm. Henry Gribble, 
D. V. S., John Hamliu, D. V. S., Arthur Hudson 
Hclme, Walter George Ilollingworth, Isaac Newton 
Krowl, of N. Y.; Morton Edward Knowles, of In¬ 
diana; Eldon Leon Loblein, of West Indies; Martin 
John Otto, of Mass.; Matthew Alexander Pierce, 
of N. J.; Edward Canfield Ross, of Conn.; John 
Elmer Ryder, of N. Y.; Orrin William Snyder, of Ill.; 
Thomas William Spranklin, of Md.; Richard Augustus: 
Stoute, D. V. S., of West Indies; Nicholas Pierce Vale¬ 
rius, of Wis.; Andrew Goodyear Vogt, of N. J.; Hamil¬ 
ton Vreeland, of N. J.; Thomas Elder White, of Mo.. 
