lorscntan. 
ABOUT SWEENY: 
Its Cause nml Treatment. 
H. J.'Dbtmers, Y. S., of Champaign, Ill., 
writes the Western Rural:—Rubbing the 
shoulders with a corn cob, and applying cor¬ 
rosive liniment, most certainly never have 
effected a cure of Sweeny, and never will. 
First, let us see in what Sweeny consists, 
and whereby it is caused. If a horse is lame, 
for instance, in a fore leg, no matter whether 
the seat of the lameness is in a part of the 
leg, or in the foot, then all the muscles of 
that leg and shoulder arc more or less inac¬ 
tive; that is, art: not as much exercised as 
those of the corresponding healthy leg and 
shoulder. Lameness in a leg not only mani¬ 
fests itself as a partial or total suspension of 
the movements of the same, but the horse 
also avoids throwing the full share of weight 
upon the lame log, either in order to escape 
pain, or because the lameness itself is of such 
a nature as to make it impossible for the 
lame leg to support the body, and to bear its 
weight—for instance, where a bone Inis been 
broken, or a tendon has been severed. JIcnce 
the muscles in question perform incomplete¬ 
ly, or not at all, Iheir functions, and, in con¬ 
sequence, attract and consume a smaller 
quantity of blood, than they would when in 
full activity, especially as the inflamed part 
or parts, demanding and consuming more 
blood than their normal share, draw away a 
certain quantity of blood — the common 
source of nourishment,—from those healthy 
parts or tissues near by or above, which cun 
spare it best on account of their diminished 
want; that is, from the more or less inactive 
muscles. 
Although the nutriment of the muscles is 
tints considerably lessened, the organic waste 
which is constantly taking place may re¬ 
main just the same, ami the necessary con¬ 
sequence is that the muscles shrink, decrease 
in size; that is, not only those of -the shoul¬ 
der, but also all muscles of the whole leg— 
an atrophied condition is more frequently 
observed in tlic former solely on account of 
their larger size and their more conspicuous 
location. Moreover, it is a well-known fact, 
especially to horse trainers, that exercise 
promotes the growth and development, and 
idleness or inactivity decreases the size of a 
muscle. 
What, then, let us ask, is the real cause of 
Sweeny? Nothing but want, of exercise or 
action, which allows these muscles to he de¬ 
prived of a part of their normal supply of 
blood by other parts or organs, in which a 
more active process, for instance, inflamma¬ 
tion, is taking place. 
The above, I think, indicates sufficiently 
how Sweeny should be treated, and in what 
way a cure can bo affected. All we have to 
do is to cure the lameness, no matter where 
its seat may be ; that, is, to remove the cause, 
and Sweeny will cure itself. As soon as the 
cause lias been removed, and as soon as the 
muscles are not any more hindered in exer¬ 
cising their full activity and performing their 
functions, nature will adjust the distribution 
of the blood, and thus be kind enough to re¬ 
store in a short time the loss of substance in 
the muscles. 
All that has been said here about the fore 
leg, is, also, equally true in respect to the 
hind one. We have only to change names, 
and say croup, or hip and lmunch, instead 
of shoulder. So, for instance, a horse that 
lias been lame for some time with spavin, or 
one that stiffens with ringbone in the hind 
pastern, always exhibits considerable Sweeny 
in the muscles of the haunch, and the croup, 
or hip of the corresponding side, which dis¬ 
appears only after the lameness 1ms been 
removed. 
Still, there is another ailment which re¬ 
ally lms its seat in the muscles of the shoul¬ 
der, that is also, though erroneously, called 
Sweeny. Let us investigate in what it con¬ 
sists, and what may be its cause. 
Sometimes, especially in the threshing sea¬ 
son, we find in young horses (three, four and 
five years old—seldom in older ones) the 
posterior groove of the shoulder blade, just 
behind the spinous process, more or less 
empty, so that the skin apparently lies close 
to the bone. In a normal condition, this 
groove is completely filled by the bodies or 
fleshy parts of several muscles, which are 
fastened with their upper end to the car¬ 
tilage, to the superior end of the spinous 
process, and to the superior part of the pos¬ 
terior margin of the shoulder bone, and at¬ 
tached with their lower ends to the humerus, 
the large bone in the upper arm, between 
the shoulder joint and the elbow. The 
function of these muscles is to turn Hie 
humerus, or upper arm, outward, and to as¬ 
sist in bringing the weight of the body upon 
the fore leg, after the latter has stepped for¬ 
ward. 
Examining llie above-mentioned abnormal 
condition, we find that the fleshy bodies of 
the muscles just described, have been re¬ 
laxed, have lost their contractibility, and do 
not fill any more the posterior groove, but 
have been lowered, and are found located 
farther back, forming a kind of lump, several 
inches above the elbow. 
If we investigate farther and look for the 
cause, we find that the young horse had to 
work hard—Lad to pull a heavy load in a 
neck-collar with tugs of unequal length, or, 
what is a still more frequent cause, lmd to 
pull hard and, tit the same time, to move in 
a circle of a small diameter; for instance, 
before a threshing or a corn-shelling ma¬ 
chine, etc.,with badly adjusted tugs; the 
outside tug not much longer in proportion 
to the inner one, and the outside circle de¬ 
scribed by the former larger than the inner 
circle described by the inside tug. In such 
a ease the horse has to pull almost the entire 
load with his outside shoulder, and the 
humerus of the outside fore leg has constant¬ 
ly to be turned outward every time that leg 
steps forward. The necessary consequence 
is, that those muscles, mentioned above, will 
soon bo exhausted, and will lose, at least 
partially, their contractibility, especially in 
a young horse, or a colt, in w hich all muscles 
arc more lender, and far more easily over¬ 
worked and tired out, than in an older ani¬ 
mal. Thus, the bodies or fleshy parts of 
those muscles in question, sink down, a kind 
of translocation takes place, the groove be¬ 
hind the spinous process of the shoulder 
bone becomes empty, and in that way that 
morbid condition frequently, though errone¬ 
ously, called Sweeny, is effected. 
As has been said above, this so-called 
Sweeny generally happens in young animals 
in which the repairing power of nature is 
very great. All we have to do is to give 
such an animal rest for some length of time, 
perhaps in a good pasture,‘and sufficient nu¬ 
tritious food, and in a lew months the im¬ 
paired muscles will gain their former strength 
and conlraetibiliLy, will re-oecupy their old 
place behind tilt: spinous process, and will fill 
the groove again. AII severe blisters, like 
that recommended in the mentioned article, 
and all operations, such, for instance, as are 
sometimes exercised by butchers to give veal 
a fatter and better appearance, as also all 
rowels and scions, -which are sometimes ap¬ 
plied, not only are perfectly useless, but cruel 
in the highest, degree, and deserve Hie atten¬ 
tion of the Society for the Prevention of Cru¬ 
elty to Animals. 
-- 
NOTES FOE HORSEMEN. 
To Break a 11 or mi- of l’nlltns: the Halter. 
“ A Reader” of the Rural New-Yorker 
sends us the accompanying sketch, and says: 
“ Put on a strong halter; put the halter rope 
or strap over the top of the manger, and 
back through a hole in or under the frame 
of (lie manger and between the horse’s fore 
legs, through a oireingle and back to the 
hind leg. Buckle a strap, with a ring on 
it, around the ankle; tie the halier strap to 
Ibis ring. Keep the horse lied in Ibis way 
one week. It is sure to break the horse of 
Lira habit of pulling. It is worth the price 
of the Rural for live years to any one who 
has a horse with this vice.” 
Remedy for ilcnves Asked For. 
W. H. S., Jamestown, N. Y., asks for a 
heave remedy. A “ Veterinarian ” writes 
the Rural New-Yorker: —“Heaves arc 
caused by the enlargement, and often rup¬ 
ture of the air colls of the lungs, and are 
incurable; for no medical skill can rebuild 
or repair the broken down structure of the 
lungs. Much can be done for the relief of 
the animal, however, by ihe feed, which 
should bo nutritious, and lie in little com¬ 
pass, as bulky feed distends ihe stomach 
and presses upon the lungs. Plenty of grain 
and litllc hay, with the dust well shaken 
out, and a little water sprinkled on, with 
steady work, or exercise, will do as much to 
relieve the horse, and make him useful, as 
anything.” 
Rollins: in llic Cat nil. 
I have a valuable horse that rolls in the 
stall. I would like to learn a cure or pre¬ 
vention.— c. H. p. 
The only remedy we know of is to tie 
the horse with length enough of halter to 
enable him to lie down, and yet short enough 
to prevent the head resting' on the ground. 
He cannot roll then. 
Healthy Horses in Michigan. 
1 noticed in the Rural New-Yorker, 
not long ago, an item staling that horses 
were dying around hero very rapidly with 
“black tongue.” I have inquired of tann¬ 
ers and our horse farriers and cannot learn 
of a single case.— E. M. P., Kalamazoo, 
Mich, 
arm (bronomii. 
THE USE OF LIME, 
At a recent meeting of the Potomac Fruit 
Growers’ Association,Tiros. Taylor, Chair¬ 
man of the Scientific Committee, made ex¬ 
tended remarks on lime, and ils combination 
and application to agriculture. He said that 
pure lime was the oxide of the metal calci¬ 
um, and constitutes what is known as caustic 
lime; by exposure to the atmosphere, it be¬ 
comes carbonate of lime, by the absorption 
of carbonic acid. When sulphuric acid is 
poured on it, it becomes Sulphate of lime or 
plaster of Paris. Caustic lime is valuable 
when properly applied. It neutralizes all 
free acids, sweetening the soil. It decom¬ 
poses vegetable and animal matter, and may, 
therefore, be employed to advantage in pre¬ 
paring muck and crude vegetable matter, 
such as roots, and woody fibers, for fertiliz¬ 
ing purposes. Albumen of the juice of plants 
is rendered more fluid by ihe presence of 
very dilute lime-water, and may assist in the 
circulation; but an excess of caustic lime 
will coagulate albumen, and, indeed, a very 
good cement is formed by the combination 
of quick-lime in excess with albumen. This 
explains how lira application of excessive 
quantities of quick lime to the roots of young 
trees destroys them. The sap contains al¬ 
bumen, and is rendered solid by the contact; 
the circulation is thereby prevented, and Hie 
tree or plant, as may be, dies. 
Quick-lime, Whan applied to manure, 
combines with organic and mineral acids, 
liberating ammonia, renders the soluble 
phosphates insoluble, destroying, to a great 
extent, the fertilizer. On the other hand, 
the application of quick-lime in moderate 
quantities to the flesh of animals may prove 
of great value by causing gradual decompo¬ 
sition. A solution of salt in contact with 
the lime, will, in this case, prove valuable, as 
the latter will absorb the ammonia liberated. 
Sulphuric acid, or sulphates, form better ab¬ 
sorbers of ammonia; but were sulphates 
added to the lime its active decomposing 
power would be retarded. Caustic lime 
should never be added to fertilizers contain¬ 
ing free ammonia, under any circumstances, 
but to substances holding potential ammonia 
it may be added with advantage in limited 
quantities. 
Bones. 
Green bones contain phosphate of lime, 
and oil <>!*- fst ; the latter may bo considered 
as a compound of carbon and water; they 
also eon Li in nitrogenous compounds. A 
small piece of green bone, lira size of a 
boy’s marble, may remain in the ground for 
twenty years without doing service as a ior- 
tilizer. The grease it contains protects it 
from atmospheric and acid action. By boil¬ 
ing bones the oily matter is removed, and 
by the action of dilute sulphuric acid a por¬ 
tion of the lime of the bone is removed. 
Superphosphate of lime remains, and by the 
action of atmospherical influence the nitro¬ 
genous portion is converted into ammonia. 
When caustic lime comes in contact with 
carbonate of potash or soda in the soil, it 
converts their alkalies into caustic potassium 
and sodium, these, in turn, are absorbed as 
plant food when highly diluted, and are, 
therefore, valuable fertilizers. 
-- 
LEACHY SOILS. 
An Allegan, Mich., correspondent asks if 
there is more than one kind of leachy laud, 
and if all land is leachy that lias a sandy or 
porous subsoil — i. e., that which is not im¬ 
pervious to water. lie also asks if soil (he 
don’t say what kind) has the quality of ex¬ 
tracting and retaining plant nutriment from 
water passing through it to any extent; if 
so, through what depth of soil would the 
highly-colored drainings of the barn-yard 
have to pass ere they became cleansed to pure 
water. We must answer as concisely as 
possibly. 
A pure sand soil is always leachy; but 
there are few soils that arc pure sand. A 
soil is not necessarily leachy because it has a 
Band subsoil; for the surface soil may con¬ 
tain clay and carbonaceous matter enough 
to retain or absorb nil the fertilizing proper¬ 
ties which may be applied to it in a liquid 
state. Water may leach through it and 
leave the surface rich and productive. 
Leachy soils need not necessarily be unpro¬ 
ductive. A pure saud will uot absorb plant 
nutriment if applied in liquid form. It has 
no absorbing power. Absorbents, such as 
muck, charcoal, vegetable mold, clay, Ac., 
must be applied; and upon the proportions 
of these in the soil depend its power to re¬ 
tain plant food. 
Gravel soils (which are not composed of 
limestone pebbles) are also more or less 
leachy, depending, of course, upon the 
amount of loam, clay, and carbonaceous 
matter they contain. Both gravelly and 
sandy soils arc benefited by the application 
of lime, gypsum, muck, leaves, charcoal, de¬ 
cayed wood, straw, chip manure and clay. 
These (or any of them) should be applied to 
and incorporated with the surface of all 
leachy soils, and the absorbing power of 
the soil will depend upon the proportion of 
these to the sand or gravel. Sand and gravel 
soils should be plowed when wet, and the 
culture should leave them as compact as 
possible. Use the roller oflen on such soils, 
and stir the surface as little as possible. 
BONES AND ASHES. 
E. B. G. asks the Rural New-Yorker 
“whether, liy putting bones in ashes, they 
will decompose and form a bone dust; and 
if so, does the bone have to be broken, and 
bow fine? IIow long will it take the bones 
to dissolve or become tit for use?” The fol¬ 
lowing methods have hitherto been pub¬ 
lished in the Rural : 
** Take one hundred pounds of bones, broken 
into ns stunt! fragments ns possible; pack them 
in U Unlit disk nrhox Willi one hundred pounds 
Of good wood nehos. Mix with ihe ashes, before 
packing, twenty-five pounds of slaked bine and 
twelve pounds <d sal soda, powdered tine. It 
will rejuire about twenty gallons of water to 
saturate the mass, mid more may and should lie 
added from time to time to maintain moisture. 
In.two or three weeks, it is asserted, the bones 
will he broken down munplototy, aiul the whole 
may be turned out upon a floor and mixed with 
two bushels ol dry peat or good Soil, nml, nTter 
drying, it Is fit for use. We have seen it recom¬ 
mended to pour on to ibis mass dilute sulphuric 
acid to aid uccoinnosiliou and prevent the es¬ 
cape of ammonia. 
Here is another method which a friend of 
ours tried successfully: 
“Take a kotttle holding a barrel or more; fill 
with bones; pour caustic )"j over to cover them. 
A gentle tire is built for two or three successive 
days, to barely warm the liquid through. In a 
week the bones will become softened Mix the 
mass with three loads of muck, afterward add¬ 
ing ihe touched ashes, from which the ley was 
obtained. Lei the whole remain, in order to de¬ 
compose the muck, and apply.” 
At a recent farmers’ meeting at Bedford, 
N. H., Mr. 8. C. Fatter of Warner, said 
that lie gathers all the hones he can, and 
saves and buys ashes, and that lie reduces 
bones by filling Ins arch-kettle or boiler w ith 
them, pours in ashes and then water, boils 
an hour or so, when the bones will gener¬ 
ally show signs of dissolution. They can be 
readily reduced in this way, and in case they 
resist at first, let them lie in moist ashes and 
a few days will effect the work. 
Ijjjc Jftoinf-fjfrtr. 
PIG-PEN PAPERS. 
Mtenuicd Food for Hons. 
Several extensive hog growers of Heniy 
Co., 111., say that feeding steamed feed is a 
perfect preventive of the hog cholera, and 
that no one there this season, who fed steam¬ 
ed feed, lias lost a hog by the cholera. 
The White China Hoc. 
S. Judd asks the Rural New-Yorker 
and its readers, who has the White China 
hog. S. F. Norton asks the same question, 
and for information concerning their merits, 
as compared with other breeds. 
Berkshire and Chester White Cross. 
E. McO., Leavenworth, Kansas, asks. 
“ Should pigs from a Berkshire boar and 
Chester White sow all be pure white, or 
spotted ?” They are more likely to be spot¬ 
ted ; we have seen them both pure white 
and spotted. 
Black Tooth in Fitts, 
In answer to a correspondent, we state 
that pigs affected with black-tooth cough, 
neglect their food and do not thrive. As 
soon ns the pig begins coughing, the mouth 
should be examined, and these black teeth, 
if any, should be pulled with a pair of nip¬ 
pers or pincers. This is wlnil, (’. F. T., 
Piltsford, N. Y,, should do with his pigs. 
Kidney Worm* iu fcjyviiic. 
C. R. Palmer describes the manner i 
which his pigs are affected, and asks what i 
the matter with them. The matter is lcic 
uey worms. As soon as lira symptoms a] 
pear, feed them corn soaked in lye of woo 
ashes or strong soap suds, and rub the loin 
with spirits of turpentine. Ashes sprinkle 
on the grain or in lira feed occasional I 
will prevent this disease. 
About Feeding Fies. 
A correspondent at Vidnlia, La., writes 
the Rural New-Yorker :— 41 1 have a sow 
and nine (Berkshire) pigs ; the latter are one 
month old. How much corn, at $1.10, 
ought I to feed them to make anything at it if 
fresh pork is worth in the winter twenty-two 
cents per pound.” We have no data upon 
which we can base a correct estimate. If 
any of our readers have, such information 
will benefit the public. 
The Origin of the Magic Hoc. 
The Poland and China hog was first in¬ 
troduced into Butler Co., Ohio., by a Mr, 
John IIakkrader about thirty years ago. 
This hog was understood to be a’ cross be¬ 
tween the Poland, Big Spoiled China and 
Byfield breeds. The peculiar advantages of 
the Magic hog may be summed tip as fol¬ 
lows:—1. The ease with which they will 
tako on fat. 3. Their entire freedom from 
mange. 3. They are grow thy during the 
F taking on fat. This quality ena- 
period of 
Ides them to be fattened at any age. 4. 
Capability of taking on great weight at 
twelve and eighteen 'mouths old. 5. They 
They 
are very prolific breeders. 6. Docility, very 
easily managed and handled.—E. W. Pegg, 
Franklin. Co., Ohio, 
fk fjjcrbsimm. 
STRONGYHJS FILARIS. 
Wonns iu the Bronchial Tubes of Young 
Cattle. 
Having frequently seen in the papers 
notices of the fatality of a disease among 
cattle, for which no one lias given either an 
explanation or a remedy, I offer a. bit of his¬ 
tory. About a dozen years ago 1 had ten 
calves suffering from difficulty of breathing, 
cough, loss of appetite, flesh and strength, 
and unwillingness to move, with fluttering 
at the flank when driven. Or inquiry, I 
could only learn that the affection had pre¬ 
vailed and proved fatal in other neighbor¬ 
hoods, whilst no one either gave pathology 
or cure. As winter was approaching, I de¬ 
termined to test the matter, and accordingly 
shot one of the calves, and immediately 
opened the windpipe, and found it lined 
with mucus, in which were imbedded an 
innumerable host of slender white worms, 
of shape and size from that of a cambric 
up to tv darning needle. On lira admission 
of light and air, all that were unhurt by the 
knife, made a hurried stampede into the 
bronchial tubes; and again, when disturbed, 
into the lungs, and still showed signs of life 
many days afterward, although the weather 
was cool. 
. The remedy adopted then, and frequently 
since, was simple, easy of application, and 
so prompt that one use of it gave entire re¬ 
lief, and was followed by unusual thrift. It 
was Lhia, oil of wormseed and spirits of tur¬ 
pentine, equal parts. Mix, apply externally 
with a swab around Hie nose and along the 
throat and brisket of the diseased animal. 
The inhalation alone of these oils will very 
soon destroy the home comforts of these 
nondescript parasites. 
During the first autumn a neighbor found 
four valuable two year old heifers of his 
herd sick at once, with the symptoms given, 
One soon died. Two days afterward my 
remedy was used on the other three success¬ 
fully. In lira ease of the calf examined, the 
opening for the passage of air through the 
windpipe did not exceed the size of a com¬ 
mon pencil or pipe stem.—J. F. Porter, M. 
D., Newton Fallx, 0. 
Youatt and other writers on diseases of 
cattle, mention these worms in connection 
with bronchitis; and it is not very uncom¬ 
mon to find these worms (»/iony>/las jilaria) 
in the bronchial tubes and w tailpipes of 
young animals that, feed in moist districts 
and on grass which grows in moist lands, es¬ 
pecially when they are subject to malarious 
influences. Where these worms affect young 
animals, the windpipe and bronchial pas¬ 
sage arc greatly inflamed; lira cough is very 
distressing; the animal loses appetite, be¬ 
comes liide-bound, the belly is tucked up, 
the coat staring, and lira flank heaves. 
Youatt rcccommcnda spirits of turpen¬ 
tine; that failing lie would try lira effect of 
squills, or the gum benzoin, or the balsams 
of Peru and tolu. He also gives detailed 
directions for homoeopathic treatment. The 
disease is regarded a difficult one to control, 
and we thank our correspondent for his rem¬ 
edy. 
-♦-*-*- 
NOTES FOE HEEDSMEN. 
Kerosene Oil for Halves. 
Kerosene oil will kill the lice on calves, 
hogs, sheep or goals; also ticks on cows, or 
fleas on dogs, or bed bugs on beds. It will 
do the animals no barm. —A. J. 8 ..Lolls, 8. C. 
To Destroy Life. 
V., Chardon, O., says lira following will 
kill lice on cattle, horses, hogs, &c.;—One 
part lard and two parts coal oil, melted to¬ 
gether and applied, will kill lice without fail, 
and do no harm to the animal. 
Film ou Cattle'* Eyes. 
E. Wilson writes lira Rural New- 
Yorker that for twenty yfears he lias re¬ 
moved films from cattle and horse’s eyes 
without failure. Apply clean lard, warm or 
cold, which ever way it can be got into the 
eye best. Its application will cause no pain, 
and should be applied until the film is re¬ 
moved. 
Raising Calves. 
A correspondent of the New England 
Farmer says:—“I allow the calf to suck 
until the milk is fit to use, and then teach it 
to drink. I give it milk warm from the 
cow a few limes, and then a tea made from 
early cut hay, with one quart of new milk at 
a feed. When it gets a little older, I put in 
a handful of oat Incal, increasing the quan¬ 
tity as it grows older. When it gets so that 
it eats bay, 1 stop giving milk, and in a few 
weeks stop lira tea. 1 then give it warm 
water with oat meal, until it goes to pasture. 
As soon as the nights become cool in the 
fall, I put the calves in the barn. The first 
winter they are fed on good early cut hay 
and roots, if J. have them, if not, 1 give them 
a little meal. Under this system, 1 have 
large, thrifty yearlings. They generally 
come in when they are two years old, and 
make the best of cows. I raise none blit 
those from thorough-bred bulls. 
